Research Article

Screening Patterns of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children with Obesity in Canadian Primary Care: A Cross-Sectional Study

Table 3

Patients with suspected NAFLD.

CharacteristicsTotal suspected NAFLD n (%) (N = 1046)

Age, years
 9–12189 (18.1)
 13–18857 (81.9)

Sex, % male542 (51.8)

Location
 Rural246 (24.0)
 Urban781 (76.0)
 Missing19

BMI, percentile
 ≥85th (underweight to normal)7 (0.67)
 86th–94th (overweight)4 (0.38)
 ≥95th–<99th (obese)667 (63.8)
 ≥99th (severe obesity)363 (34.7)
 Missing5

ALT (n = 1021)
 Median ALT31 (18)
 ALT >40335 (32.3)
 ALT >8082 (7.8)

Health conditions
 Diabetes59 (5.64)
 Hypertension95 (9.1)
 Dyslipidemia179 (17.1)
 ADHD179 (17.1)
 Depression239 (22.9)
 PCOS18 (1.7)
 Sleep apnea9 (0.86)

Medications
 Antipsychotics98 (9.4)
 Anxiolytics77 (7.36)
 Antidepressants278 (26.6)
 Psychostimulants167 (16.0)
 Antihypertensives55 (5.3)
 Antidiabetics42 (4.0)

Prior primary healthcare utilization over 1 year4 (6)

Prior specialist referral
 Gastroenterology34 (3.25%)
 Pediatrics231 (22.1%)
 Endocrinology53 (5.07%)
 Weight clinic/dietician2 (0.19%)

Reported as median (interquartile range); BMI, body mass index; ALT, alanine transaminase; ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome.