Effects of Liver Fibrosis on Islet Function in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Complicated with Impaired Fasting Glucose

Abstract

Yan Lu,1 Wei Gou,1,2 Hai Feng Zhang,3 Yi Ying Li3 1Department of Clinical Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao City, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Metabolic Liver Disease, Qingdao Sixth People’s Hospital, Qingdao City, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Medical Department, Qingdao Sixth People’s Hospital, Qingdao City, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Wei Gou, Email [email protected]: Patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and cirrhosis often have impaired fasting glucose (IFG). This study sought to investigate the impact of liver fibrosis on islet function in individuals diagnosed with CHB and IFG.Material and Methods: Patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) were selected for this study. They were divided into low-risk (L-R), intermediate-risk (M-R), and high-risk (H-R) liver fibrosis groups based on the FIB-4 score. The study compared islet function among different risk groups of liver fibrosis and analyze the correlation between liver fibrosis and islet function. Additionally, the patients were divided into a diabetes mellitus (DM) group and a non-DM (NDM) group based on the development of DM. The cumulative risk of progression to DM in patients with L-R, M-R, and H-R liver fibrosis was analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Hazard ratios (HRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for DM development through Cox regression analysis.Results: In this study of 228 individuals, higher FIB-4 scores were observed in the DM group compared to the NDM group. Patients with H-R liver fibrosis displayed lower islet function and had a significantly higher risk of developing DM. The FIB-4 score and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were identified as independent risk factors for DM progression in CHB patients with IFG.Conclusion: Among patients with CHB and IFG, the severity of liver fibrosis is associated with islet function, and the FIB-4 score is a significant risk factor for DM development.Keywords: chronic hepatitis B, FIB-4, impaired fasting glucose, islet function, diabetes mellitus

Keywords

• chronic hepatitis b
• fib-4
• impaired fasting glucose
• islet function
• diabetes mellitus