Prospective cohort study on the predictive value of serum uric acid levels to the incident nonalcoholic fatty liver disease / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To assess the predictive value of serum uric acid levels to the incident nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)in a cohort of healthy population. Methods A prospective cohort study of NAFLD incidence was conducted in Xinjiang province, from 2012 to 2014. A cohort study was performed on 2 207 subjects with no evidence of fatty liver disease by liver ultrasound and with no major risk factors for liver disease at baseline. All participants were interviewed to carry out the epidemiological questionnaire survey, physical examination, abdominal ultrasonography, as well as blood biochemistry measurements. The hazard ratios of NAFLD were compared among groups with different uric acid levels. All subjects were classified according to serum uric acid (within normal range grouped by quartile Q1-Q4 group; above the normal range Q5 group). Results NAFLD was newly diagnosed in 13.72% subjects within the 3-year period. The incidence of NAFLD was increased with elevated serum uric acid quartiles(P<0.01). In multivariate logistic regression, after adjustment for gender, age, race, metabolic syndrome and its components, OR for incident fatty liver in Q2 to Q5 of serum uric acid concentration as compared to Q1 were 2.509, 3.172, 3.392, and 4.041 respectively. Conclusion Elevated serum uric acid concentrations may predict NAFLD in the subjects for a regular health checkup.