Fatty liver index is associated to pulse wave velocity in healthy subjects: Data from the Brisighella Heart Study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is associated to increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Our aim was to evaluate association of indexes of fatty liver with arterial stiffness (AS).

METHODS:

We analyzed data of adult volunteers visited during the last Brisighella survey. We evaluated the Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) and the following non-invasive indexes of liver steatosis: Fatty Liver Index (FLI), Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP), Hepatic Steatosis Index (HSI). We compared patients according to the risk of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH): low-risk (BMI < 28 and no diabetes), intermediate-risk (BMI ≥ 28 or diabetes), high-risk (BMI ≥ 28 and diabetes). Multiple Linear Regression analysis was assessed for predictors of AS.

RESULTS:

We studied 1731 volunteers. In subjects with low metabolic risk, HSI (RR = 0.138, 95%CI 0.105-0.170, p < 0.001), FLI (RR = 0.024, 95%CI 0.016-0.032, p < 0.001), LAP (RR = 0.014, 95%CI 0.008-0.020, p < 0.001) and Serum Uric Acid (RR = 0.150, 95%CI 0.024-0.275, p = 0.019) were significant predictors of AS. HSI and FLI emerged as predictors of PWV in intermediate risk group (RR = 0.116, 95%CI 0.071-0.160, p < 0.001; RR = 0.010, 95%CI 0.001-0.020, p = 0.041). In volunteers with high risk, FLI and Uric Acid were related to PWV (RR = 0.049, 95%CI 0.011-0.087, p = 0.013; RR = 0.632, 95% CI 0.222-1.041, p = 0.003).

CONCLUSION:

Fatty liver indirect indexes were associated to AS in subjects with different metabolic risk profiles.

• Authors: Arrigo F G Cicero, Stefano Gitto, Federica Fogacci, Martina Rosticci, Marina Giovannini, Sergio D'Addato, Pietro Andreone, Claudio Borghi, Brisighella Heart Study Group Medical and Surgical Sciences Dept., University of Bologna
• Journal: European journal of internal medicine (Eur J Intern Med) Vol. 53 Pg. 29-33 (07 2018) ISSN: 1879-0828 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 29580767 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2018 European Federation of Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Uric Acid

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Body Mass Index
• Fatty Liver (epidemiology)
• Female
• Healthy Volunteers
• Humans
• Italy (epidemiology)
• Linear Models
• Liver (pathology)
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Multivariate Analysis
• Pulse Wave Analysis
• Risk Assessment
• Risk Factors
• Uric Acid (blood)
• Vascular Stiffness
• Waist Circumference