84% of IT workers in Hyderabad at risk of fatty liver disease, sedentary lifestyle primary reason

Hyderabad: Technology professionals in Hyderabad face an exceptionally high risk of fatty liver disease, according to groundbreaking new research. While various studies across India have documented metabolic and behavioral risk factors among IT employees including overweight, hyperglycemia, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, stress, insomnia, and depression due to sedentary lifestyles researchers have now identified another critical health crisis affecting this population- Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD).

A comprehensive study conducted by University of Hyderabad scientists in collaboration with senior hepatologists from the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG) hospital revealed that approximately 84% of IT employees in Hyderabad have MAFLD more than double the rate found in India's general population.

The cross-sectional study, conducted from July 2023 to July 2024 and published in Nature Scientific Reports, analyzed IT employees randomly selected through extensive outreach in Hyderabad's Hi-tech City area. The research was led by Prof Kalyankar Mahadev and Prof C T Anitha, along with research scholars Bharam Bhargava and Nanditha Pramod, in collaboration with senior hepatologist Dr PN Rao and his team from AIG hospital.

Fatty liver disease occurs when more than 5% fat accumulates in the liver due to various behavioral and metabolic risk factors. If left unchecked, the condition can progress to severe forms of liver disease, including cirrhosis and cancer, potentially requiring liver transplantation.

Despite previous research documenting metabolic and lifestyle risk factors among IT employees in India, this study represents the first assessment of MAFLD prevalence in this demographic. The findings are particularly concerning given that without early-stage screening in the working-age population, the disease may remain undiagnosed and evolve into a significant public health burden.

After excluding cases with secondary causes of liver steatosis and missing data, 345 IT employees were included in the final analysis. The participant profile revealed 294 (85.20%) men and 51 (14.80%) women.

Most 327 (94.80%) belonged to the age group of 30–49 years with a small proportion (5%) over 50years. All the participants were literate and had graduation or post-graduation degrees.

The median number of years of work was 14 years (9.8–18.0 years) and the work pattern was 125 (36.23%) worked in office, 165 (47.80%) worked in hybrid mode and 55 (15.90%) worked from home (WFH).

The study revealed an alarming 84.06% prevalence of MAFLD among IT employees significantly higher than the 38.6% prevalence recorded in India's general population according to systematic reviews.

The IT industry's work culture creates ideal conditions for developing MAFLD and metabolic syndrome. Key contributing factors include sedentary lifestyle like occupational sitting for more than 8 hours per workday , shift work and irregular hours, inadequate sleep hours, chronic workplace stress, smoking and unhealthy food options, limited exercise and movement.

These factors combine to create what researchers describe as "the perfect storm" for developing metabolic syndrome and MAFLD.

The IT sector serves as one of India's leading economic growth drivers, contributing approximately 7% of the country's GDP in fiscal year 2023-2024. Hyderabad stands as a major technology metropolis, housing around 1,500 IT companies and employing over 580,000 professionals, making this health crisis particularly significant for both individual workers and the broader economy.

The study's authors emphasize several critical interventions to increase their physical activity and reduce sedentary lifestyle. Considering dietary modification by reducing HFSS (High fat, sugar and salt), consuming diet low in calories and rich in fibre may aid in reducing their abdominal obesity. It is worth noting that occupational risk factors involving prolonged sitting, shift work and physical inactivity among IT employees puts them at specific risk for MAFLD and therefore, routine periodic screening for MAFLD is required, said the study.

The researchers stressed that IT employees are not currently addressed in India's National Programme for Non-Communicable Diseases. They call for urgent workplace interventions and emphasize the critical need for routine liver function screenings in this population.

"Considering the high prevalence of MAFLD among IT employees and their specific occupational risk factors, immediate and comprehensive interventions are essential," said the study “Prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease among information technology employees in India” by Bhargava, B., Rao, P.N., Kulkarni. "Without prompt action, this health crisis could evolve into a major public health burden with significant economic implications," added the study.