Frontiers in Endocrinology (Jan 2023)

Abdominal obesity and dsyglycemia are risk factors for liver fibrosis progression in NAFLD subjects: A population-based study

  • María Teresa Julián,
  • Sílvia Ballesta,
  • Guillem Pera,
  • Alejandra Pérez-Montes de Oca,
  • Berta Soldevila,
  • Berta Soldevila,
  • Llorenç Caballería,
  • Llorenç Caballería,
  • Rosa Morillas,
  • Rosa Morillas,
  • Carmen Expósito,
  • Carmen Expósito,
  • Alba Martínez–Escudé,
  • Alba Martínez–Escudé,
  • Manel Puig-Domingo,
  • Manel Puig-Domingo,
  • Manel Puig-Domingo,
  • Josep Franch-Nadal,
  • Josep Franch-Nadal,
  • Pere Torán,
  • Pere Torán,
  • Kenneth Cusi,
  • Josep Julve,
  • Josep Julve,
  • Josep Julve,
  • Dídac Mauricio,
  • Dídac Mauricio,
  • Dídac Mauricio,
  • Núria Alonso,
  • Núria Alonso,
  • Núria Alonso

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2022.1051958
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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ObjectiveTo investigate longitudinal changes in the liver stiffness measurement (LSM) in the general adult population without known liver disease and to describe its association with metabolic risk factors, with a special focus on subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and dysglycemia.Material and MethodsA longitudinal adult population-based cohort study was conducted in Catalonia. LSM was measured by transient elastography (TE) at baseline and follow-up (median: 4.2 years). Subgroup with NAFLD and dysglycemia were analyzed. Moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis was defined as LSM ≥8.0 kPa and LSM ≥9.2 kPa respectively.ResultsAmong 1.478 subjects evaluated, the cumulative incidence of LSM ≥8.0 kPa and ≥9.2 kPa at follow-up was 2.8% and 1.9%, respectively. This incidence was higher in NAFLD (7.1% for LSM ≥8.0 kPa and 5% for LSM ≥9.2 kPa) and dysglycemia (6.2% for LSM ≥8.0 kPa and 4.7% for LSM ≥9.2 kPa) subgroups. In the global cohort, the multivariate analyses showed that dysglycemia, abdominal obesity and atherogenic dyslipidemia were significantly associated with progression to moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis. Female sex was negatively associated. In subjects with NAFLD, abdominal obesity and dysglycemia were associated with changes in LSM to ≥8.0 kPa and ≥9.2 kPa at follow-up. A decline in LSM value to <8 kPa was observed in 64% of those subjects with a baseline LSM ≥8.0 kPa.ConclusionsIn this population study, the presence of abdominal obesity and dysglycemia were the main risk metabolic factors associated with moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis development over time in general populations as well as in subjects with NAFLD.

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