Influences of Gender and Age on the Prevalence and Complications of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Objective To investigate the effects of gender and age on the prevalence and complications of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD). Methods A total of 8429 NAFLD patients were selected from the Health Check-up Center and Outpatient Departments of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University(Qingdao).The questionnaire-based survey,physical examinations,biochemical tests,and liver ultrasonography were performed for all cases.Patients were divided into young group(<45 years),middle aged group(45 years≤age<60 years),and old group(≥60 years)according to age,and the clinical features and laboratory findings were analyzed. Results The proportion of male patients gradually decreased with age,while the proportion of female patients increased(P<0.01);The incidences of metabolic diseases showed significant difference among young group,middle aged group,and old group(P<0.01).Except for hyperlipidemia,the proportion of male patients with NAFLD-accompanied metabolic symdrome was significantly higher than that of female patients in all three age groups(all P<0.01). Conclusions The prevalence of NAFLD-accompanied metabolic syndrome disease is associated with age and gender.This finding is useful for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.