Lipids & metabolic liver disease
Diagnosis Frequency and Associated Factors of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Among United States Hospitalized Adults in Urban vs Rural Populations From 2007 to 2019: An Emerging Public Health Crisis
Authors' conclusion
The increasing prevalence of NAFLD suggests a strong association with metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. With increasing closure of rural hospitals, we may see more rural patients with NAFLD admitted to urban centers. Early detection and diagnosis should help prevent long-term complications of NAFLD.
Study context
- Population
- US hospitalised adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample, 2007–2019of 847,165 NAFLD cases
- Participants
- 370,131 participants
- Exposure
- Rural vs urban hospitalised adults with NAFLD
- Outcome
- Factors associated with NAFLD diagnosis
Methodological detailsNational Inpatient Sample, multivariate logistic regression
- National Inpatient Sample
- Multivariate logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
NAFLD diagnosis
Each group vs central metroAdjusted odds ratio (95% CI)
Fringe metro
1.074(1.044–1.105)
Medium metro
1.146(1.114–1.179)
Small metro
1.182(1.140–1.226)
Rural
1.279(1.233–1.327)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
NAFLD hospitalisations by setting · 2007 to 2019
- Urban cases
- 84.9%
- Rural cases
- 15.1%
- Hospitalisations due to NAFLD significantly increased over time
- Demographics, hospital characteristics, insurance, income and outcomes differed significantly between the 2 groups
Characteristics associated with NAFLD
- NAFLD more prevalent in females, those aged 35-49 or 50-64 years and White patients, particularly with diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity
Original publication
Diagnosis Frequency and Associated Factors of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Among United States Hospitalized Adults in Urban vs Rural Populations From 2007 to 2019: An Emerging Public Health Crisis. Endocr Pract. Published 21 May 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →