Journal of Hepatology and Gastrointestinal disorders
Open Access
ISSN: 2475-3181
+44-77-2385-9429
ISSN: 2475-3181
+44-77-2385-9429
Michael Sun
SUNY Upstate Medical University, New York
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Hepatol Gastroint Dis
Statement of the Problem: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prominent issue associated with rising rates of obesity. However, in Asian Americans, its non-obese counterpart (body mass index (BMI)<25 kg/m2) is becoming more prevalent. It is important to distinguish points of clinical interest relating non-obese individuals and steatosis. This can help clinicians in diagnosing patients among a larger BMI range. Our study aims to define the most significant predictors for moderate-to-severe NAFLD among the Asian American cohort. Methodology and Theoretical Orientation: 294 Asian American NAFLD patients were included in this study. The patient population was divided based on BMI and f ibrosis severity. There were 190 patients (64.6%) that were defined as obese (BMIâ?¥25 kg/m2) and 104 patients (35.4%) defined as non-obese (BMI<25 kg/m2) according to the parameters defined by the World Health Organization for Asians. To determine which biomarkers served as independent predictors of â?¥F2 fibrosis, multivariate logistics regressions were performed. To compare the gender stratified NAFLD cohorts, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used. Findings: In the obese NAFLD cohort, increased aspartate aminotransferase (P<0.05), BMI (P<0.01), and age (P<0.05), as well as decreased platelet count (P<0.05) independently predicted â?¥F2 fibrosis. For non-obese NAFLD patients, lowered serum creatinine (SCr) (P<0.05) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (P<0.05) independently predicted â?¥F2 fibrosis. Obese NAFLD patients had increased rates of â?¥F2 fibrosis compared to their non-obese counterparts. Female NAFLD patients had notably lower SCr ranges (P<0.001) compared to the healthy female population while no significant differences were recorded in male NAFLD patients. Conclusion & Significance: SCr and GFR were found to be the main predictors of moderate-to-severe fibrosis in non-obese Asian American NAFLD patients. Due to decreased SCr levels, Asian American NAFLD women may be at greater risk for loss of muscle mass and liver fat accumulation.
Michael Sun is working in SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York