Evaluation of Fatty Liver and its Correlation with Liver Enzymes, BMI, and HbA1c Using Ultrasonography

Abstract

Background: The present study is a comprehensive evaluation of the role of non-invasive ultrasound imaging in diagnosing and assessing the severity of fatty liver disease, a condition that is increasingly recognized as a significant public health issue due to its association with metabolic disorders like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. This prospective cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of diabetes in patients with fatty liver, to determine the correlation between ultrasound grading of fatty liver and liver function tests and to explore the relationship between ultrasound grading of fatty liver and Body Mass Index (BMI). Methodology: This study focused on the utility of ultrasound, a non-invasive, cost-effective, and widely available diagnostic tool, in detecting fatty liver and correlating its severity with biochemical markers including liver enzymes ALT, AST, GGT, BMI, and HbA1c levels. The study involved 56 participants who were selected using a simple random sampling method. The inclusion criteria required participants to be aged 18 years or older, to have been referred for abdominal ultrasonography, and to have undergone liver function tests, fasting and random blood sugar tests, and HbA1c measurements. Results: The study's findings revealed important insights into the prevalence and severity of fatty liver disease in the study population. The mean age of participants was 55.31 years, with a mean BMI of 26.9 kg/m, indicating that most participants were overweight or obese. Liver enzyme levels varied widely, with ALT levels ranging from 10 to 500 U/L, AST from 10 to 560 U/L, and GGT from 13 to 1760 U/L. The mean HbA1c level was 7.7%, reflecting a high prevalence of diabetes among the participants. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study demonstrates the utility of ultrasonography as a non-invasive and effective tool for detecting and grading fatty liver disease. The significant correlations observed between fatty liver severity, liver enzyme levels, and BMI provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of the disease and its association with metabolic dysfunction. Although no significant correlation was found between fatty liver grades and blood glucose levels, the high prevalence of diabetes among participants highlights the complex interplay between these metabolic conditions.