Prevalence of and risk factors for fatty liver disease in a professional population of Wuhan, China.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the prevalence of fatty liver disease (FLD) and its risk factors in a cold steel-rolling mill in Wuhan, China.

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey.

METHODS: In total, 1174 subjects were investigated for FLD (596 exposed workers and 578 controls). FLD was determined by ultrasonography. Height, weight, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum triglyceride (TG) and serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were determined by routine laboratory methods.

RESULTS: The prevalences of major diseases such as FLD (41.6%), hypertension (21.1%) and high serum TG (42.6%) were higher in the exposed workers than in the controls. The prevalence of FLD was highest among grinding roller workers (50.6%); this was almost four times as high as in the control group (14.7%). Logistic regression analysis indicated that all six types of work (zincing, shearing, tinning, operating grinding rollers, electrics and fitting), as well as high serum TG, high serum AST, hyperglycaemia, hypertension, higher body mass index (BMI) and drinking alcohol were risk factors for FLD.

CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of FLD was found among the exposed workers, and some risk factors, especially different types of work, were related to the prevalence of FLD. High serum TG, high serum AST, hypertension, hyperglycaemia, higher BMI and drinking alcohol were important risk factors for FLD.