Relationship of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease to Colorectal Neoplasia / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is regarded as a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Increased echogenicity suggesting NAFLD is a frequent incidental finding on ultrasound examination. This study examined whether NAFLD is related to colorectal neoplasia. METHODS: We reviewed 1,938 consecutive individuals who underwent screening colonoscopy at Changwon Fatima Hospital between Jan 2009 and Sept 2011. The individuals were divided into adenomatous polyp (Group A; n = 494) and control (Group B; n = 1,444) groups. NAFLD was diagnosed by increased echogenicity on abdominal ultrasound. RESULTS: The prevalence of NAFLD was 171 (34.6%) in group A and 336 (23.3%) in group B. Compared with normal subjects, group A subjects were more likely to be men, older, and have a higher body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, waist circumference, fasting glucose, uric acid, triglyceride, HbA1c, Hb and gammaGT levels, and a higher prevalence of NAFLD, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, older age (> or = 50 years) (OR 2.051; 95% CI 1.647-2.553), male sex (OR 2.419; 95% CI 1.837-3.184), and prevalence of NAFLD (OR 1.289; 95% CI 1.004-1.655) were associated with an increased risk of adenomatous polyps. CONCLUSIONS: NAFLD is associated with a high prevalence of colorectal neoplasia. A fatty liver on abdominal ultrasound might predict the development of colorectal adenomatous polyps and cancer.