risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a multivariate analysis

ObjectiveTo investigate the risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and to provide a basis for the prevention of NAFLD. MethodsA total of 190 patients with NAFLD who visited the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2011 to January 2013 were included in the study. The investigated factors included sex, age, height, weight, dietary habit, smoking and alcohol consumption, educational level, occupation, intensity and duration of physical exercise, bedtime, previous history, and family history. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using SPSS 18.0 to determine the risk factors for NAFLD. ResultsThe univariate analysis showed that sex, age, dietary habit, occupation, body mass index (BMI), and educational level were associated with NAFLD (P＜0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors for NAFLD were sex (OR=5.692, P=0.029), age (OR=0.423, P=0.041), occupation (OR=0.698, P=0.008), BMI (OR=3.939, P=0.003), educational level (OR=5.463, P=0.030), and dietary habit (OR=9.235, P=0.039). ConclusionNAFLD may be related to many factors, and corresponding preventive measures may reduce the development of NAFLD.