Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: An Expanding Problem with Low Levels of Awareness in Dhaka

Abstract

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is excessive buildup of fat mainly in the form of triglycerides in the liver tissue without any consumption of alcohol. NAFLD acts as a significant risk factor for the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). With the modernization of the lifestyle and changing food habit of people and the rising prevalence of diabetes and obesity, NAFLD has become a serious problem in Dhaka. The purpose of this study was to find out about the knowledge and awareness of people in Dhaka about NAFLD.The survey based study was carried out between July 2017 to December 2017 in different areas and hospitals in Dhaka among 165 participants. Participants were both male and female aged more than 18 years. The result showed that 81% of the people have never come across the term “NAFLD”. Only 5.5% of the participants have been diagnosed with NAFLD among which 33.3% are pre-obese and 66.7% are overweight according to their BMI. 89% of the NAFLD patients also have diabetes which means diabetic people are in high risk for developing NAFLD. Knowledge about other lifestyle and food habit related diseases was also inadequate. Although 76% of the people are highly educated the knowledge and awareness of people about NAFLD is quite surprising. The survey provided an inadequate knowledge and awareness about NAFLD among the people in Dhaka although having higher education level.