Estimated Prevalence of Adolescents with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Korea

Abstract

BackgroundNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become prevalent worldwide in the last decade. However, the recent prevalence of NAFLD in adolescents has not yet been investigated in Korea.MethodsData were obtained from 1,416 participants aged 10–18 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2010 and 2015. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), height, weight, waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and pediatric NAFLD fibrosis index (PNFI) were analyzed.ResultsSBP, weight, WC, BMI, WHtR, and total cholesterol level were significantly higher in 2015 than in 2010. Prevalence of NAFLD (BMI ≥ 85th percentile plus ALT > 30 U/L for boys and ALT > 19 U/L for girls) were 4.7% in 2010 and 5.9% in 2015 (P = 0.360). Using various cutoffs for the ALT level (> 40, > 30, > 25.8 U/L for boys and >22.1 U/L for girls) NAFLD prevalence rates were 3.0%, 4.1%, and 5.5% in 2010; 2.9%, 5.0%, and 7.1% in 2015, respectively (P = 0.899, 0.469, and 0.289). Boys had a higher SBP, DBP, height, weight, WC, BMI, WHtR, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, ALT, and lower HDL level than girls. The probability of liver fibrosis using the PNFI varies between 21.3% and 24.5% among NAFLD participants (P < 0.001).ConclusionThe Korean society needs to quickly control the increasing prevalence of NAFLD in adolescents and reduce its complications.

Normal serum alanine aminotransferase and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among Korean adolescents: a cross-sectional study using data from KNHANES 2010–2015

“…The present study used the upper normal limit of ALT to estimate the prevalence of NAFLD, which revealed values of 10.8% among boys and 6.6% among girls in 2015. In contrast, use of the previous standard values (30 U/L for boys and 19 U/L for girls) generated estimated NAFLD prevalences of 6.7% among Korean boys and 5.1% among Korean girls in 2015 [ 10 ] [ 5 , 11 ]. Thus, the prevalence of NAFLD in this population appears to be unexpectedly high, and we recommend aggressive management for patients who may have undetected NAFLD based on the previous standard ALT values.…”

Trends in measures of handgrip strength from 2014 to 2017 among Korean adolescents using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data

“…The body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) were calculated from the measured height and weight of participants (kg/m 2 and waist (cm)/height (cm) × 100, respectively). Blood samples were collected from venous blood and levels of fasting glucose (mg/ dL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, U/L), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT, U/L), triglyceride (TG, mg/dL), cholesterol (mg/dL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL, mg/ dL), were measured using a Hitachi Automatic Analyzer 7600 [18].…”

Trends in Measures of Handgrip Strength from 2014 to 2017 Among Korean Adolescents using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data

“…Levels of fasting glucose (mg/dL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, U/L), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT, U/L), triglyceride (TG, mg/dL), cholesterol(mg/dL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL, mg/dL), were measured using a Hitachi Automatic Analyzer 7600. [17] Handgrip strength measurement The Takei digital grip strength dynamometer (Model T.K.K.5401, Takei Co., Ltd., Ishioka, Japan) was used to measure handgrip strength. The dynamometer were calibrated according to standardized protocol and special investigator checked the measurement whether it was done properly.…”