ABSTRACT
Objectives
Childhood fatty liver disease (FLD) has become a major problem due to the dramatic increase in the incidence of obesity. In our country, studies on the factors affecting the risk for FLD are insufficient. In this single-center, retrospective and cross-sectional study, we aimed to evaluate the role of parameters affecting the prediction of the risk of FLD in obese children.
Materials and Methods
Ninety-one obese children (48 males, 43 females) aged 12.19}2.88 years were included in the study. Body weight (BW), height, left arm mid-circumference (LEMC), triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC) were measured. Body mass index (BMI), WC/HC ratio, and WC-to-height ratio were calculated. Obesity was defined as BMI at the 95th percentile and above according to age and gender. FLD was diagnosed using ultrasonography.
Results
FLD was present in 49.5% of obese children. In obese children with FLD, BW, height, BMI, TSF, TSFstandard deviation scores, WC, and HC measurements were found to be significantly higher than in obese children without FLD (p<0.05). In the logistic regression analysis, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) score, TSF, and gender were determined as independent variables for FLD, with p-values and confidence intervals identified as follows: for HOMA-IR score [p=0.001, B: 1.927, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.323-2.807], for TSF (p=0.010, B: 1.090, 95% CI: 1.021-1.163), and for gender (p=0.008, B: 0.215, 95% CI: 0.070-0.666).
Conclusion
According to the results of our study, HOMA-IR was identified as the most important factor playing a role in the development and progression of FLD. Male sex is a risk factor for steatosis. Although BMI and WC are the most commonly used measurements, TSF can also be easy indicator for detecting the presence of obesity-related FLD in children.
