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BMC Gastroenterology
Published in: BMC Gastroenterology 1/2023

Open Access 01-12-2023 | Fatty Liver | Research

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and socioeconomic determinants in an Iranian cohort study

Authors: Zahra Sadeghianpour, Bahman Cheraghian, Hamid Reza Farshchi, Mohsen Asadi-Lari

Published in: BMC Gastroenterology | Issue 1/2023

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Abstract

Background

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is widespread worldwide. On the other hand, social inequality and socioeconomic status (SES) can affect all aspects of health. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between SES indicators and NAFLD.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study using data from the registration phase of the Hoveyzeh Cohort Study, which included 10,009 individuals aged 35–70 years from May 2016 to August 2018. Fatty liver disease was determined based on Fatty Liver Index (FLI). The crude and adjusted odds ratios were calculated by logistic regression analysis to estimate associations between the fatty liver index and SES after controlling the potential confounders.

Results

According to the FLI index, there were 2,006 people with fatty liver (28%) and 5,246 people without fatty liver (72%). Several 4496 people (62%) were women. The chi-square test showed significant relationships between the educational level and skill level (P < 0.001), the wealth index (P < 0.001), and Townsend Index (P < 0.001) with fatty liver index. In multivariable analysis, after adjustment for age, sex, physical activity, smoking, type of residence, calorie intake, dyslipidemia, skill level, and diabetes, the wealth index (p < 0.001) was positively associated with the fatty liver index. Besides, a reverse and significant association was seen between the Townsend index and the fatty liver index(p < 0.001). In contrast, no significant associations were seen between gender and educational level with the fatty liver index.

Conclusions

A more vulnerable SES is associated with NAFLD. Fatty liver index and socioeconomic indicators can be powerful monitoring tools to monitor health differences in diagnosing NAFLD.
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Metadata
Title
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and socioeconomic determinants in an Iranian cohort study
Authors
Zahra Sadeghianpour
Bahman Cheraghian
Hamid Reza Farshchi
Mohsen Asadi-Lari
Publication date
01-12-2023
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Gastroenterology / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1471-230X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-023-02964-4

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