Clinical features of metabolism-related fatty liver disease in the non-lean population

Abstract Objective To assess the clinical and histological features of metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in non-lean population. Methods Current study enrolled consecutive non-lean (Body Mass Index (BMI) > 23 kg/m2) patients with MAFLD and available liver biopsy results. Patients were stratified by BMI into two groups for the comparison of their clinical and histological variables, which included the overweight (BMI 23 ~ < 28 kg/m2) and the obese (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2). Risk factors for moderate to severe fibrosis (stage > 1) were also analysed through the logistic regression model. Results Among 184 non-lean patients with MALFD enrolled, 65 and 119 were overweight and obese, respectively. Patients in the obesity group had a significantly lower level of gamma-Glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), higher levels of platelet (PLT), Glucose (Glu), prothrombin time (PT), and more common of moderate to severe inflammatory activity when compared to those in the overweight group. However, a significant low frequency of moderate to severe fibrosis was found in the obesity group vs the overweight group (19.33% vs 40.00%, P = 0.002). Multivariate logistic regression analysis of fibrosis found that aspartate transaminase (AST), BMI, alanine transaminase (ALT) and cholesterol (CHOL) were independent predictors for moderate to severe fibrosis in non-lean patients with MAFLD. Compared with the traditional FIB-4 (AUC = 0.77) and APRI (AUC = 0.79) indexes, the combined index based on AST, BMI, ALT and CHOL was more accurated in predicting moderate to severe fibrosis in non-lean patients with MAFLD (AUC = 0.87). Conclusions Clinical and histological features differed between obesity and overweight patients with MAFLD. When compared to the traditional serum markers, the combination index including AST, BMI, ALT and CHOL provides a better model to predictor moderate to severe fibrosis in non-lean patients with MAFLD.