Association between Serum Uric Acid to HDL-Cholesterol Ratio and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Lean Chinese Adults

Abstract

Background/Aim. The risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in lean population have not been fully clarified. This study aimed to explore the association between uric acid to HDL-cholesterol ratio (UHR) and NAFLD in lean Chinese adults. Methods. A cross-sectional study was performed among 6285 lean Chinese adults (body mass index < 24 kg/m2) who took their annual health checkups. NAFLD was diagnosed based on hepatic ultrasound examination, with exclusion of other etiologies. Results. Of 6285 lean participants enrolled, 654 NAFLD cases were diagnosed. The overall NAFLD prevalence was 10.41%, and the prevalence was 15.45% and 7.16% in men and women, respectively. UHR was significantly higher in NAFLD patients than in controls (14.25 ± 5.33% versus 10.09 ± 4.23%, P<0.001). UHR quintiles were positively associated with NAFLD prevalence, which was 1.91% in the first UHR quintile and increased to 3.58%, 7.81%, 14.17%, and 24.54% in the second, third, fourth, and fifth quintile groups, respectively (P<0.001 for trend). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that UHR was independently associated with an increased risk of NAFLD (odds ratio: 1.105; 95% CI: 1.076–1.134; P<0.001). Sensitivity analysis showed that UHR remained significantly associated with NAFLD in lean participants with normal range of serum uric acid and HDL-cholesterol levels. Conclusions. UHR was significantly associated with NAFLD and may serve as a novel and reliable marker for NAFLD in lean adults.