PREVALENCE OF LIVER STEATOSIS: A STEP FORWARD FOR BETTER EVALUATION USING ULTRASOUND

Abstract

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide, defined by hepatic fat accumulation in >5% of hepatocytes without significant alcohol use. NAFLD encompasses a spectrum from benign steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and may progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar for studies published between January 2016 and December 2021. Keywords included "hepatic steatosis," "NAFLD," "fatty liver," and "ultrasound-detected NAFLD." English-language studies involving adult populations focusing on epidemiology, diagnosis, risk factors, or management of NAFLD were included. Results: Out of 700 initially identified articles, 555 eligible participants were included after exclusions. Among 577 who met all criteria, 377 had fatty liver and 200 served as controls. Fatty liver patients showed significantly higher age, abdominal girth, triglycerides, liver enzymes (AST/ALT), and male predominance compared with controls (all p<0.05). Ultrasound demonstrated sensitivity of 60–94% and specificity of 66–97% for detecting steatosis. Conclusion: Ultrasound remains a reliable, non-invasive first-line tool for hepatic steatosis detection. Lifestyle modification, weight management, and metabolic risk-factor control are the cornerstones of NAFLD management.

Keywords: NAFLD (Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease), liver steatosis, conventional ultrasound, hepatic steatosis, HR (Hazard Ratio), NASH(Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis).