The Association of serum uric acid with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease – A case control study in a tertiary hospital in North Karnataka

The study is to identify if there is an association between the levels of the serum uric acid – a chemical which is present in the blood produced by bodily functions and the presence of non – alcoholic fatty liver disease- a condition where fat gets accumulated in the liver even though the person does not consume alcohol. This study aims to find out if there is in fact a link between these 2 parameters, and that by estimating this simple chemical by taking a blood sample we will be able to identify the likelihood and other related factors of the disease. All that would be required for the same is a scan of the stomach and a blood sample from the patient, and with that the analysis can be done for the study. Based on statistical tools a number of 30 has been derived wherein 30 participants who don’t have the disease will be tested for the chemical’s levels in the blood and 30 participants who do have the disease will undergo testing for its blood levels. A comparison will then be derived based on the findings. Hopefully a link will be established and this will save a lot of time and money in the future for the patients who are suffering or are on the verge of suffering from the disease, and will aid in the early recognition of the disease and its various manifestations allowing for a better method to identify and treat the disease.

The study hypothesis is that those who are having non alcoholic fatty liver disease have elevated levels of uric acid in their blood. If this is the case - which the study aims to prove then further understanding of the condition both from a causative and a curative approach can be done, being of great benefit to patients.