Prevalence and Predictors of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Morbidly Obese South Indian Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery.

Background: Numerous studies worldwide have identified a high prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among morbidly obese subjects. Several predictors have been found to be associated with NAFLD and its histological high-risk components. Similar data from India is lacking. We aimed to determine the prevalence and the predictors of NAFLD and its histological high-risk components in a cohort of Indians with morbid obesity undergoing bariatric surgery. Safety of a routine intraoperative liver biopsy was also assessed.

Methods: There were 134 morbidly obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery with concomitant liver biopsy. These were assessed for NAFLD and its histological high-risk components. Clinical, biochemical, and histological features were evaluated, and predictors of NAFLD, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and advanced fibrosis were identified.

Results: Mean BMI was 44.66 ± 9.81. Eighty-eight (65.7 %) showed NAFLD. Forty-five (33.6 %) showed NASH and 42 (31.3 %) showed fibrosis both not mutually exclusive. Nineteen (14.1 %) showed advanced fibrosis. Higher alanine aminotransferase (ALT) independently predicted NAFLD and was significantly associated with NASH and fibrosis. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the metabolic syndrome were significantly associated with fibrosis. Systemic hypertension (HT) independently predicted NASH and fibrosis. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications related to the liver biopsy.

Conclusions: NAFLD has a high prevalence among morbidly obese patients. Elevated ALT, HT, T2DM, and the metabolic syndrome are predictors for NAFLD and its high-risk histological components. Routine intraoperative liver biopsy is safe in morbidly obese undergoing bariatric surgery for diagnosing NAFLD.