Frequency Of Hypocalcemia In Patients With Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a widespread chronic liver disease in the whole world and is closely linked with metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease. According to recent studies, the changes in calcium metabolism and vitamin D deficiency could be associated with the progression of NAFLD. However, scarce information is present on this relationship amongst Pakistani population. Objective: To establish the prevalence rate of hypocalcemia among patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Methodology: This proposed observational descriptive study was carried out in the Department of Medicine, Hameed Latif Hospital, Lahore from January 2025 to June 2025. Non-probability consecutive sampling was used in selecting 135 patients between 40 and 80 years of age who were diagnosed with NAFLD. Severely renal failure patients, malignancy, sepsis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, or congestive heart failure patients were excluded. The proforma was used to collect demographic and clinical data. Laboratory tests such as calcium levels of serum and vitamin D, liver functions tests as well as ultrasound abdomen were done. Corrected serum calcium of less than 8.2 mg/dl was considered hypocalcemia. The analysis of data was done in SPSS version 25. Quantitative variables were computed in mean and standard deviation whereas qualitative variables were computed in frequencies and percentages. Results: Hypocalcemia was found to be present in a considerable number of 135 patients with NAFLD. The rates of hypocalcemia were higher in the patients who had moderate to severe illnesses. Strong relationship was noted between low levels of serum calcium and severity of NAFLD (p=0.05 or less). Conclusion: Hypocalcemia is common in NAFLD patients, and it seems to correlate with the severity of the disease. Observation of serum calcium could be used to assist clinicians in promptly detecting metabolic disorders and improved treatment of