Author(s)

Winnie Tatiana Bekolo Nga^1,2*, Martine Claude Etoa^3,4, Bidjogo Gwet Marina¹, Servais A. F. Eloumou Bagnaka^2,5, Antonin Wilson Ndjitoyap Ndam⁴, Agnès Malongue¹, Mathurin Kowo^4,6, Christian Tzeuton⁷, Dominique Noah Noah², Oudou Njoya^4,6, Firmin Ankouane Andoulo⁴, Luma H. Namme^1,4

¹Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
²Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
³National Obesity Centre, Central Hospital of Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁴Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁵Department of Internal Medicine, Gynecologic and Pediatric Hospital of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
⁶Department of Internal Medicine, Teaching Hospital of Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁷Clinic of Capucines, Douala, Cameroon.

Introduction: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide and its prevalence increases with that of metabolic syndrome and its components. NAFLD is associated with complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Diagnosis is mainly based on liver biopsy, but there are validated non-invasive methods. The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of metabolic steatopathy in patients with metabolic syndrome in Cameroon. Methods: This was a cross-sectional and analytical study conducted over a 6-month period from January 1^st, 2019, to August 31^st, 2022. Included were patients with metabolic syndrome who had consulted in endocrinology or gastroenterology at Yaoundé Central Hospital, Douala General Hospital and Douala Gyneco-obstetric and Pediatric Hospital. The diagnosis of NAFLD was made on abdominal ultrasound in front of a homogeneous or heterogeneous hyperechogenic aspect of the hepatic parenchyma compared to that of the right renal cortex called “brilliant liver” and fibrosis evaluated through non-invasive scores (Fib4 and NALFD Fibrosis score). Logistic regression by a uni- and multivariate analysis made it possible to search for the associated factors. Results. We included 133 patients. The female sex represented 64.7%. The mean age was 55 ± 9 years. The prevalence of NAFLD was 48.9%. At the evaluation of fibrosis was significant according to FIB-4 and NAFLD fibrosis score respectively in 6.2% and 4.6% of cases. The independently associated factors were Triglyceridemia ≤ 1.5 g/l (OR = 0.33; 95% CI [0.11 - 0.95]; p = 0.04) and LDL hypercholesterolemia (OR = 2.94; 95% CI [1.07 - 8.11]; p = 0.036). Conclusion: NAFLD was present in almost half of patients with metabolic syndrome. We had very few patients with significant fibrosis, but it needs to be further evaluated. The associated factors are hypertriglyceridemia and LDL hypercholesterolemia.

Hepatic Steatosis, Metabolic Syndrome, Prevalence, Cameroon

Nga, W. , Etoa, M. , Marina, B. , Bagnaka, S. , Ndam, A. , Malongue, A. , Kowo, M. , Tzeuton, C. , Noah, D. , Njoya, O. , Andoulo, F. and Namme, L. (2023) Prevalence and Factors Associated with Hepatic Steatosis in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome in Cameroon: Cases of 4 Reference Hospitals. Open Journal of Gastroenterology, 13, 99-110. doi: 10.4236/ojgas.2023.133011.