Association of liver biomarkers in T2DM patients, northern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Background Liver disease, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in particular, is a considerable cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Mounting evidence demonstrated that monitoring liver function biomarkers is critical for early detection and control of the disease. However, this relationship is not evaluated in the study setting. Objectives To determine the association of liver biomarkers in T2DM Patients, Northern Ethiopia, from March 2020 to June2020. Methods Lifestyle and socio-demographic data were collected through interviews with the participants. Clinical data were reviewed from the medical record. Anthropometric measurements were taken following WHO protocol. Liver function markers were measured using an automated chemistry analyzer. The data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Categorical variables were presented using frequencies and percentages. Quantitative variables were described using means and standard deviations. Binary and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with liver function abnormalities. Results A total of 331 (52.6% males) type 2 diabetes mellitus patients participated in this study. The mean fasting blood sugar level was 183±10.4mg/dl. Overall, 40% of the participants had abnormal liver function. In the multivariate analysis, male sex (AOR = 2.48; 95% CI: 1.43–4.31), duration of disease since diagnosis <5 years (AOR = 2.94; 95% CI: 1.30–6.63), alcohol intake (AOR =3.90, 95%CI:1.98-7.66), waist circumference (AOR = 3.81; 95% CI: 1.85-7.83), BMI ≥ 30kg/m2 (AOR = 3.96; 95% CI: 1.40–11.15), and FBS >200 mg/dl (AOR = 4.84; 95% CI: 1.33–17) were significantly associated with liver function abnormalities. Conclusions Liver function abnormalities were common among T2DM patients at Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Sex, disease duration, BMI, waist circumference, alcohol intake and fasting blood sugar were significant contributors for the observed liver biomarker derangement.