ORHAN SEZGİN, SERKAN YARAŞ, MEHMET CİNDORUK, ELMAS KASAP, HAKAN ÜNAL, AYDIN ŞEREF KÖKSAL, ABDULLAH EMRE YILDIRIM, BURAK ÖZŞEKER, NEVİN ORUÇ, MÜJDE SOYTÜRK, SABİTE KAÇAR, MUHSİN KAYA, KADER IRAK, YASEMİN GÖKDEN, DENİZ ÖĞÜTMEN KOÇ, OSMAN ÖZDOĞAN, ENGİN ALTINTAŞ, NERGİZ EKMEN, MURAT SARUÇ, ŞENCAN ACAR, MAHMUT POLAT, SEZGİN BARUTÇU, GÖKSEL BENGİ, VOLKAN GÖKBULUT, NALAN GÜLŞEN ÜNAL, DİLEK OĞUZ
The Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology - 2024;35(3):239-254
Background/Aims: Pancreatic steatosis (PS) is a pathology associated with metabolic syndrome (MS), endocrin and exocrine disfunctions of the pancreas, and fatty liver. The data on the frequency of PS are very limited. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of PS detected by transabdominal ultrasonography (TAU) in gastroenterology clinics located in different geographical regions of Turkey and the factors associated with it. Materials and Methods: Volunteers were evaluated by TAU for PS and hepatosteatosis (HS), and its degree. Pancreatic stiffness was evaluated by ultrasonographic shear wave elastography (SWE). All demographic, physical, and biochemical parametres were measured. Results: A total of 1700 volunteers from 14 centers throughout Turkey were included in the study. Mean age was 48.03 ± 20.86 years (56.9% female). Prevalance of PS was detected in 68.9%. In the PS group, age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid levels, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, MS frequency, and pancreatic SWE score were increasing, and fecal elastase level was decreasing in correlation with the degree of PS. The frequency of HS was 55.5%. Hepatosteatosis [odds ratio (OR): 9.472], increased age (OR: 1.02), and BMI (OR: 1.089) were independent risk factors for the occurrence of PS. Lean-PS rate was 11.8%. The lean-PS group was predominantly female and younger than non-lean PS. Also it has lower blood pressure, FBG, liver enzymes, lipid levels, and HS rates. Conclusion: The frequency of PS was found 68.9% in Turkey. Its relationship was determined with age, BMI, HS, MS (and its components), pancreatic stiffness, and fecal elastase level. Elastography, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, lean steatosis, pancreas stiffness, pancreatic steatosis, ultrasonography
