Metabolic characteristics of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and related risk factors in non-obese population

Objective To investigate the metabolic characteristics of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease( NAFLD) and related risk factors in non-obese population. Methods A retrospective analysis were performed for 12 125 individuals who underwent physical examination in Physical Examination Center of PLA Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center from July 2013 to April 2019. According to body mass index( BMI) < 25 kg/m2,these individuals were divided into non-obese group with 8528 individuals and obese group with 3597 individuals; according to the results of abdominal ultrasound,the non-obese group was further divided into NAFLD group with 1025 individuals and non-NAFLD group with 7503 individuals. According to BMI < 25 kg/m2,3281 individuals with NAFLD were divided into non-obese NAFLD subgroup with 1025 individuals and obese NAFLD group with 2256 individuals. Related clinical data were collected,including sex,age,BMI,fasting blood glucose,uric acid,total cholesterol,triglyceride,high-density lipoprotein,low-density lipoprotein,and hemoglobin.Non-normally distributed continuous data were expressed as M( P25-P75),and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between groups; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate risk factors. Results Among the 12 125 individuals who underwent the physical examination,the detection rate of NAFLD was 27. 06%,and the detection rate of non-obese NAFLD was 8. 45%,accounting for 12. 02% of the non-obese population.The multivariate logistic regression analysis,based on the univariate analysis,had a diagnostic accordance rate of 89%,and the results showed that the increase in age,BMI,fasting blood glucose,uric acid,triglyceride,low-density lipoprotein,and hemoglobin were independent risk factors for non-obese NAFLD( odds ratio [OR]= 1. 043,1. 716,1. 161,1. 004,1. 791,2. 587,and 1. 011,P < 0. 001,< 0. 001, = 0. 001,< 0. 001, < 0. 001, < 0. 001,and = 0. 011),suggesting that non-obese NAFLD had the strongest association with low-density lipoprotein and had no association with age,uric acid,and hemoglobin. Total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein were non-susceptible factors for non-obese NAFLD( OR = 0. 521 and 0. 523,P = 0. 007 and 0. 024). Conclusion Non-obese NAFLD is closely associated with metabolic disorders,and further studies are needed to explore the association between serum cholesterol and non-obese NAFLD.