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Background and Aim Obesity is an important health-care problem in developed countries. It is considered a multisystemic disease, but it may also affect the liver, thus provoking non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This disease has been less extensively studied among children than among adults. We propose to analyze the prevalence of hepatic steatosis among a pediatric population within an area in southern Europe besides the variables associated with its development and severity. Methods Cross-sectional study carried out on a population of children aged 6–14 years inclusive, using abdominal ultrasound as a method to determine the presence and severity of hepatic steatosis; in addition, anthropometric and blood-tested parameters were examined to determine which of these were associated with steatosis. Results One hundred forty-four children were analyzed, 84 male (58.3%). Steatosis was detected in 50 children (34.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 26.0–42.0%). In six of these cases (12%), elevated aminotransferase levels were recorded. Factors found to be associated with steatosis were body mass index ≥ 99th percentile (odds ratio [OR] 3.58, 95% CI 1.16–15.6) and the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.03–1.13), while its severity was associated with ALT (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.09–1.28). A level of ALT |
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