Non-invasive Screening of Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease and Affecting Factors in Primary Care.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the presence of MAFLD (metabolic associated fatty liver disease) with some non-invasive screening methods and the factors affecting in patients with metabolic dysfunction.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: University of Health Sciences, Kartal Dr. Lutfi Kirdar City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkiye, from March to June 2021.

METHODOLOGY

This study included 233 participants with metabolic disease over the age of 18 who applied to family medicine clinics. The participants' sociodemographic data, chronic disease status, biochemical parameters, waist circumference, weight, height, body mass index, and presence of steatosis by ultrasonography were recorded. The risk of developing hepatic fibrosis and steatosis was calculated with the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease liver fat score (NAFLD-LFS), hepatic steatosis index (HSI), fatty liver index (FLI), fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4), NAFLD fibrosis score (NAFLD-FS), and aspartate aminotransaminase to platelet ratio index (APRI). The conclusions were evaluated with SPSS.

RESULTS

According to the diagnostic criteria, MAFLD was detected in 58.4% of the participants. Statistically significant difference was found between FLI, HSI, NAFLD-LFS and MAFLD (p<0.001). According to the steatosis index risk groups of the participants, 64.4% - 89.7% were found to be high-risk. Steatosis was confirmed by ultrasonography in 63.6% - 77.8% of those at high-risk for index steatosis. The statistically significant difference was found between hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and MAFLD (p=0.039, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, and p=0.011, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Using non-invasive screening methods for steatosis can be clinically useful in detecting patients at risk for steatosis, and these methods are applicable in predicting MAFLD.

KEY WORDS

NAFLD, Fatty liver ındex, Hepatic steatosis index, MAFLD, Steatosis.