Comparison of Metabolic Risk Factors for Liver Cancer Among Men and Women in Guatemala

Abstract 13 Background: The proportion of liver cancer (LC) that is linked to metabolic risk factors has been increasing in many countries. Guatemala has the highest reported incidence of LC in the Americas, 1 but the prevalence of metabolic risk factors is not clear. We undertook this work to examine the prevalence of metabolic risk factors for LC in Guatemala by sex and residence. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 461 adults older than 40 years who resided in rural and urban areas. Risk factors were defined by using physical exam and laboratory data, including anthropometry, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, serum liver enzymes, and lipids. Fatty liver disease (FLD) was defined as a fatty liver index score of > 60 and liver fibrosis (LF) as defined by a FIB-4 score of > 2.67. 2 , 3 Results: Among participants, 66% resided in rural areas and 57% were women. Mean ages of men and women were 58.0 ± 11.3 and 53.4 ± 9.8 years, respectively. Compared with men, women had higher prevalence of obesity (15% v 41%; P ≤ .001), metabolic syndrome (46% v 74%; P < .001), and FLD (67% v 52%; P < .001), but not LF (6% v 4%; P = .238). Compared with men and women from rural areas, those from urban areas had higher prevalence of diabetes (10% v 27%; P = .002; and 14% v 32%; P < .001) FLD (42% v 67%; P < .001; and 59% v 79%; P < .001), and metabolic syndrome (37% v 58%; P = .005; and 69% v 81%; P = .032), respectively. There was no difference in prevalence of LF by area among either men (6% v 6%; P = .86) or women (3% v 4%; P = .75). Conclusion: This study highlights a high prevalence of metabolic risk factors for LC in Guatemala, especially among women in urban areas. AUTHORS' DISCLOSURES OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Alvaro Rivera-Andrade No relationship to disclose Maria Fernanda Kroker-Lobos No relationship to disclose Mariana Lazo No relationship to disclose Neal Freedman No relationship to disclose John Groopman No relationship to disclose Eliseo Guallar No relationship to disclose Carlos Mendoza-Montano No relationship to disclose Katherine McGlynn No relationship to disclose Josh Smith Research Funding: Abbott Nutrition Manuel Ramirez-Zea No relationship to disclose