The doctoral dissertation in the field of Clinical Epidemiology will be examined at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Kuopio campus.
What is the topic of your doctoral research? Why is it important to study the topic?
Fatty Liver Index (FLI) is an algorithm based on easily measured parameters, including waist circumference, body mass index, triglyceride, and gamma-glutamyl-transferase. It reflects liver fat content and can indicate presence of fatty liver disease, which has been linked with cardiometabolic diseases. There is the need to evaluate the association of FLI with future development of cardiometabolic disease outcomes that have been associated with fatty liver disease in order to understand the usefulness of FLI in predicting these outcomes.
What are the key findings or observations of your doctoral research?
People with high FLI have increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes at later date. People with increase in FLI from a baseline value may also have higher risks compared with those of similar baseline FLI whose FLI did not increase. On the other hand, there is also the possibility that people with decrease in FLI from a baseline value may have lower risks compared with those of similar baseline FLI whose FLI remained high.
How can the results of your doctoral research be utilised in practice?
Patients who have high FLI may need evaluation for fatty liver and also preventive measures against cardiometabolic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes.
What are the key research methods and materials used in your doctoral research?
The epidemiologic research was prospective, observational and analytical quantitative research. The participants were men in the Kuopio ischaemic heart disease study. Participants’ characteristics at baseline and at 4 years from baseline were studied in relation to development of cardiometabolic diseases after specified duration of observation.
The doctoral dissertation of Olubunmi Olubamwo, MBBS, MScPH, entitled Fatty Liver Index and Risk of Incident Cardiometabolic Disease and Mortality will be examined at the Faculty of Health Sciences. The Opponent in the public examination will be Professor Markus Perola of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the Custos will be Professor Tomi-Pekka Tuomainen of the University of Eastern Finland.
