Rapid Communication
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 14, 2008; 14(6): 913-917
Published online Feb 14, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.913
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the Philippines: Comparable with other nations?
Mark Anthony A De Lusong, E Labio, L Daez, V Gloria
Mark Anthony A De Lusong, E Labio, L Daez, V Gloria, Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
Correspondence to: Mark Anthony A De Lusong, Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines. delusongmd@gmail.com
Telephone: +632-5242983
Fax: +632-5242983
Received: March 16, 2006
Revised: November 30, 2007
Published online: February 14, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the prevalence and determined the common characteristics of patients diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) at the Philippine General Hospital, Manila, from January 1999 to December 2004.

METHODS: NAFLD was diagnosed in 134 from a total of 1102 patients, based on clinical, ultrasonographic and/or histopathological findings. Patients with conditions associated with secondary NAFLD were excluded. Chart review was done to note demographics, co-morbid illnesses, physical characteristics, hepatomegaly, aspartate/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) levels, albumin, lipid levels, alkaline phosphatase, prothrombin time, and partial thromboplastin time. Data obtained were analyzed using the statistical program SPSS version 10.

RESULTS: Of the 134 patients included, 71% were female and 29% male. Mean patient age was 42.2 years. Sixty percent of patients were obese, 56% had hepatomegaly, and 69% had diabetes. AST levels were elevated in 45% of subjects and ALT levels in 64%.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of NAFLD at our institution was 12.2%. Patients diagnosed appear to be younger in age in contrast to previous studies. Female sex, obesity, elevated liver enzymes, and diabetes were characteristic features of our NAFLD patients, which is comparable to previous studies from other countries.

Keywords: Fatty liver; Obesity; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Diabetes; Philippines