Egyptian Liver Journal (Apr 2024)

Obesity prevalence in adults and patients with hepatitis C: results from screening a population of 50 million in Egypt

  • Gamal Esmat,
  • Hala Zaid,
  • Mohamed Hassany,
  • Wael Abdel-Razek,
  • Magdy El-Serafy,
  • Wafaa El Akel,
  • Aysam Salah,
  • Ehab Kamal,
  • Galal Elshishiney,
  • Islam Ammar,
  • Khaled Kabil,
  • Mohamed AbdAllah,
  • Ramy Saeed,
  • Tarek Saad,
  • Yasser Omar,
  • Hany Dabbous,
  • Manal H. El-Sayed,
  • Yehia El Shazly,
  • Wahid Doss,
  • Imam Waked

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s43066-024-00326-7
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 1 – 13

Abstract

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Abstract Obesity is a global health problem and has been increasing in Egypt over the last several decades. A national population screening program for hepatitis C included screening for obesity. Here we report the outcome of body mass index (BMI) calculation for the screened population and for patients with hepatitis C. Methods Adults 18 years and older (a target population of 62.5 million) were invited to participate in a screening program between October 2018 and April 2019. Persons had their BMI calculated. All data were entered in real-time to a central database via cellular networks. BMI data for patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection before starting direct antiviral therapy were obtained from the National Committee for the Control of Viral Hepatitis (NCCVH) Findings 49.6 million persons (25.6 million females and 24.0 million males) voluntarily participated and had valid height and weight data. 12.7 million females (49.51%) and 7.09 million males (29.53%) were affected by obesity (BMI ≥ 30kg/m2). Obesity increased with age, was more prevalent in females, was more prevalent in the Nile Delta states and in urban areas. Detailed district-level prevalence for the whole country is identified. Prevalence of obesity among 335,504 patients with HCV was higher in females, increased with age, and was significantly lower overall and in males and females than in the screened general population. Conclusion This is the largest population screening program for obesity. We show that obesity prevalence in the general population is currently among the highest in the world, starting in young adults, and highlight the high prevalence areas. Prevalence is lower in patients with HCV.

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