Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42733913›Full record

ArticleCureus2026

Awareness of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Makkah, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Khadijah A Ergesous, Rose M Albugami, Miaad A Aljaafari, Layan A Alotaibi, Bayan M Alshuqayfi, Abeer S El Moursy Ali

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Khadijah A ErgesousFaculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAU.
Rose M AlbugamiFaculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAU.
Miaad A AljaafariFaculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAU.
Layan A AlotaibiFaculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAU.
Bayan M AlshuqayfiFaculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAU.
Abeer S El Moursy AliDepartment of Pathology, Makkah Colleges, Makkah, SAU.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver condition characterized by excessive fat accumulation in hepatocytes, affecting individuals globally. With a prevalence of 32% among adults, NAFLD is linked to obesity, metabolic disorders, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), yet awareness remains disproportionately low, reaching as low as 4.4% in some developed countries like the US, despite its high prevalence. In Saudi Arabia, specifically the Makkah region, data regarding public awareness are scarce. This study aims to bridge this gap by assessing NAFLD awareness and its predictors among Makkah residents.

methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using an electronic questionnaire (Google Forms) distributed through social media platforms, with 716 participants (aged ≥18 years) included, who are adult residents of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire gathered demographic information and assessed NAFLD knowledge. The survey instrument was self-constructed; while formal psychometric validation was not conducted, content validity was ensured through review by academic faculty experts. Data were analyzed using RStudio (version 4.3.1). Descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests were utilized. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify significant predictors of awareness, with results reported as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

resultsOf the 716 participants, 80% were female, and 54.1% were aged 18-25 years. Only 30.3% were aware of NAFLD, primarily through the Internet (59.9%). Awareness of symptoms was critically low (17.9%). Significant predictors included higher education (p = 0.010) and older age (p = 0.038). Notably, participants with a family history of NAFLD were 32.7 times more likely to be aware of the condition (OR = 32.7, p < 0.001).

conclusionThe study reveals significant gaps in NAFLD awareness and knowledge among Makkah residents. Given that the internet is the leading source of information, we recommend launching interactive social media campaigns led by trusted healthcare professionals to provide simplified, evidence-based content. In addition, increasing local research and conducting awareness days in public places are essential steps. These practical actions will bridge the knowledge gap, support early detection, and help prevent serious liver complications.

Indexed as

cross-sectional studymakkah populationnafld awarenessnon-alcoholic fatty liver diseasepublic health education

Identifiers

PMID42733913
PMCPMC13571770

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.