Analysis of risk factors related to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a retrospective study based on 31,718 adult Chinese individuals

ObjectiveNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide. This study guides the prevention and diagnosis of NAFLD by analyzing its risk factors and the diagnostic value of each index for NAFLD. MethodWe collected the clinical information of adults individuals who underwent physical examination in the Physical Examination Center of Qingpu Branch of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, from January 2016 to January 2020, including gender, age, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), indirect bilirubin (IBIL), fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). We performed logistic regression analysis and ROC diagnostic analysis. ResultsThe results showed that age, BMI, SBP, ALT, AST, FBG, TBIL, TG, and LDL were risk factors for NAFLD in adults, and HDL was a protective factor (all p-values were less than 0.05). Among them, age, BMI, ALT, TG, and HDL had a predictive value for the occurrence of NAFLD in the adults (AUC = 0.708, 0.836, 0.767, 0.780, and 0.732, respectively). The combination of age, BMI, ALT, TG, and HDL had a diagnostic value for the occurrence of NAFLD (AUC = 0.881). ConclusionHealthy people should pay attention to their BMI levels, manage blood pressure, blood glucose, and lipid levels, and pay attention to changes in ALT and AST index levels to prevent NAFLD. Age, BMI, ALT, TG, and HDL indexes are helpful factors in the diagnosis of NAFLD.

Automated summary

This study provides guidance for the prevention and diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by analyzing its risk factors and diagnostic value of each index. The results showed that age, BMI, SBP, ALT, AST, FBG, TBIL, TG, and LDL were risk factors for NAFLD in adults, while HDL was a protective factor. Age, BMI, ALT, TG, and HDL had predictive value for NAFLD occurrence, and the combination of these factors had diagnostic value. In conclusion, managing BMI, blood pressure, blood glucose, and lipid levels while monitoring ALT and AST levels is important for NAFLD prevention, and age, BMI, ALT, TG, and HDL are helpful in the diagnosis of NAFLD.