Exploration of a symptoms experience in people with obesity-related nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a highly prevalent condition strongly associated with obesity that can result in premature death. Little is known about the symptoms experience in this progressive disease, preventing health care providers from intervening in the early stages. Purpose: This study explicated symptoms in persons with NAFLD at higher risk of disease progression defined as the presence of one or two copies of the PNPLA3 (rs738409)-G allele. Method: Guided by the Symptoms Experience Model, 42 persons older than 21years of age with diagnosed NAFLD were recruited from Western Michigan specialty offices in this cross-sectional descriptive study design. The Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale was used to measure the symptoms experience. Discussion: Participants (97%) experienced 1 or more symptoms (average number of symptoms 12.02, standard deviation = 8.817). There was no statistically significant relationship between symptoms and the PNPLA3 (rs738409) variants. Significant predictors of mean frequency, severity, and distress of symptoms (the Total Memorial Symptom Scale) (F[15, 25] = 2.609, p = .016) were identified. Conclusion: People with NAFLD experience an average of 12 symptoms. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.