Low muscle quality index is associated with increased risk of advanced fibrosis in adult patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: NHANES 2011–2014

Abstract

Muscle quality index (MQI) is a novel indicator reflecting the quality of skeletal muscles. The association between MQI and the development of advanced fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is unknown. We investigated the association of low MQI with advanced fibrosis among adults with NAFLD using a nationally representative sample of the US population. Adults with NAFLD who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2014 were included. Sex-specific standard was used to define low and extremely low MQI. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to assess the association between MQI level and advanced fibrosis. In the study, 3758 participants with NAFLD were included. The prevalence of low and extremely low MQI was 11.7% (95% CI 10.4–13.0%) and 2.2% (95% CI 1.6–2.8%), respectively. Among these participants, 96 were assessed to have advanced fibrosis. Individuals with low [(odds ratio (OR) 2.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22–4.91)] and extremely low MQI (OR 10.48, 95% CI 3.20–34.27) were associated with advanced fibrosis in multivariable analysis. A linear trend relationship was also observed between MQI level and the risk of advanced fibrosis (Ptrend = 0.001). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses yielded similar results to the main analyses. Decreased MQI is highly prevalent, and is associated with an increased risk of advanced fibrosis in adult US population with NAFLD.