Prevalence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Its Correlation with Coronary Risk Factors in Patients with Type 2 DM

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetics appear to be at greater risk of NAFLD and certainly of fibrosis and cirrhosis development. Type 2 diabetes and NAFLD are more common than previously thought, especially in India. To find out if there is a connection between NAFLD and CVD in a large group of type 2 diabetics, the current study was designed.Aim: 1) To study the prevalence of NAFLD by USG in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. 2) To correlate NAFLD with coronary artery disease and coronary risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional, open-labelled, single-centric, parallel design study conducted in the department of general medicine of a tertiary care hospital among patients with type 2 DM. Results: Among the 120 patients that took part in the study, there were 69 NAFLD patients and 51 non-NAFLD patients. Individuals with NAFLD had a significantly longer mean diabetes duration. In the NAFLD group, the prevalence of hypertension, obesity, visceral obesity, and metabolic syndrome was greater. The NAFLD group had much worse glycemic control. Sr. HDL and Sr. Triglyceride levels were found to be greater in the NAFLD group, whereas Sr. LDL levels were found to be higher in the non-NAFLD group, and Total cholesterol levels were practically comparable in both groups. ALT and AST values were higher in NAFLD patients than in non-NAFLD patients.Conclusion: The prevalence of NAFLD increases dramatically in the presence of type 2 diabetes, with majority patients affected in fourth decade of life. Obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were considerably more prevalent with NAFLD compared to subjects without NAFLD.