Homeostase glicêmica e marcadores antropométricos associados à resistência insulínica em pacientes portadores de doença hepática gordurosa não alcoólica

Abstract

Objective: To determine predictive anthropometric measurements associated with insulin resistance in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, quantitative study conducted at two outpatient clinics in Recife-PE. The study group was formed by individuals of both sexes over 18 years of age with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease diagnosed via abdominal echography. The anthropometric variables collected were: waist circumference, body mass index, conicity index, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio. Insulin resistance was determined through the homeostasis model assessment: insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The Mann–Whitney U test and correlation tests were performed to understand the differences between the variables. Results: 75 individuals participated in the study, most of whom were female (85%) and with age over 60 years (44%). Insulin resistance was high in the population, being present in more than half of the individuals (73%). Except for the body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio, all other indices showed a significant association between the presence of insulin resistance and non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis: waist-to-height ratio (p= 0.004), conicity index (p= 0.031), and waist circumference (p= 0.001). In the correlation test, only the waist circumference (r= 0.2184; p= 0.05) and the waist-to-hip ratio (r = 0.2310; p= 0.04) were associated. Conclusions: The anthropometric indicators are applicable tools in clinical practice and in the context of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; however, waist circumference and the waist-to-height and waist-to-hip ratios provided the best predictions.

Keywords

• antropometria. doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. resistência à insulina. esteatose hepática.