Hispanic Americans Face Liver Disease Risk

More susceptible to most common kind, which is fueled by diabetes, obesity

THURSDAY, Jan. 27, 2005 (HealthDayNews) -- Hispanic Americans may be at higher risk of developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) than other racial groups, says a study in the February issue of Hepatology.

NAFLD is the most common liver disease in the United States and is associated with type 2 diabetes and obesity. NAFLD is benign. However, its more advanced form, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, can cause chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and cancer.

The research was jointly conducted by the University of California at San Francisco, the Division of Research at Kaiser Permanente, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The study of 159 patients with definite or probable NAFLD found 45 percent were white (compared to 59 percent of the Kaiser Permanente membership) and 28.3 percent were Hispanic (compared to 10 percent of the membership).

Blacks accounted for 3 percent of the NAFLD group (compared to 9 percent of the membership), while the percentage of Asians with NAFLD was similar to the percentage of the membership.

The higher proportion of Hispanics in the NAFLD group may indicate that they are at higher risk for the condition, the study authors said.

The study also found that NAFLD was much more common in Asian males than in Asian females.

Previous studies have focused primarily on whites.

"Our findings highlight the need for increased awareness of NAFLD within minority racial-ethnic groups, the need for culturally sensitive educational programs aimed at the early recognition and prevention of NAFLD, as well as the need for ensuring adequate representation of different racial and ethnic groups in future clinical studies," the authors wrote.

More information

The American Liver Foundation has more about NAFLD.

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
www.healthday.com