Correlation between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score and unstable plaques of carotid in elderly patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Objective To investigate the correlation between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)fibrosis score(NFS)and unstable plaques of carotid in elderly NAFLD patients. Methods The clinical and carotid plaques data of 191 elderly(≥60 years old)admitted into our department between July 2016 and January 2018 were retrospectively collected.With NFS 0.676 as a cut-off point, the patients were divided into a liver fibrosis group(NFS ≥0.676, n=65)and a non-liver fibrosis group(NFS<0.676, n=126). Based on quartiles of NFS, the patients were divided into four groups: the Q1 group(NFS<-0.865, n=48), the Q2 group(-0.865≤NFS<0.100, n=48), the Q3 group(0.1≤NFS<1.070, n=47), the Q4 group(NFS≥1.070, n=48). The correlation of NFS with the property of carotid plaques was analyzed. Results The detection rate of unstable carotid plaques was increased along with the increase of NFS(F=8.573, P=0.004). The detection rate of unstable carotid plaques was higher in the liver fibrosis group than in the non-liver fibrosis group(78.5% or 51/65 vs.60.3% or 76/126, χ2=5.883, P=0.015). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that liver fibrosis(NFS≥0.676)was independently correlated with unstable carotid plaques(β=0.816, 95%CI: 1.110~4.607, OR=2.261, P=0.025)after adjusting for possible confounding factors including age, gender, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein. Conclusions NFS is correlated with unstable carotid plaques in elderly NAFLD patients, and the higher NFS is the independent risk factor for unstable carotid plaques for elderly NAFLD patients with NFS higher than 0.676.We should pay more attention to the evaluation of unstable carotid plaques. Key words: Fatty liver; Liver cirrhosis; Carotid arteries