Risk factors and community intervention for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in community residents of Urumqi, China

This study is to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and to analyze the effect of comprehensive community intervention on NAFLD in community residents in Urumqi, China. Cluster sampling method with street community as a unit was adopted in this study. Questionnaire survey, body measurement, blood biochemistry (including liver function, fasting blood glucose [FPG], and uric acid [UA]) examination as well as liver B ultrasound were performed. Then, comprehensive intervention was conducted in NAFLD patients. A total of 1000 people were enrolled, including 344 men and 656 women, with an average age of 51.79 ± 4.28 years. Of them, 660 were Han Chinese, 327 were Uygur, and 13 were Hui. The overall prevalence rate of NAFLD was 54.3%. The prevalence rate of NAFLD is higher in middle-aged population and is higher in ethnic minority than that in Han. NAFLD was associated with the past medical history of metabolic diseases. The factors of body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), waist circumference, hip circumference, neck circumference, subcutaneous fat thickness, FPG, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase were identified as risk factors for NFALD. Neck circumference predicts the occurrence of NAFLD in female better, whereas subcutaneous fat predicts the occurrence of NAFLD in male better. After 8 months of community intervention in NAFLD patients, the changes of BMI, SBP, DBP, waist circumference, neck circumference, subcutaneous fat thickness, and UA were statistically significant (P < .05). The prevalence rate of NAFLD is high in Urumqi, China. Community intervention is effective in reducing the degree of NAFLD and promoting the overall health of NAFLD patients.