Table 1.
Clinical characteristics of NAFLD patients split by a NASH score of 4. Continuous variables are represented as [median, (interquartile range, IQR)]; categorical variables are represented as [%, (n)]. HOMA-IR, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance; AST, Aspartate Aminotransferase; ALT, Alanine Aminotransferase; GGT, Gamma-glutamyl transferase; FLI, Fatty Liver Index; HSI, Hepatic Steatosis Index; NFS, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease fibrosis score; FIB4, Fibrosis-4; HFS, Hepamet Fibrosis Score; APRI, AST to Platelet Ratio Index.
| NASH Score < 4 (N = 82) | NASH Score ≥ 4 (N = 70) | p | |
|---|---|---|---|
| -Demographic | |||
| Age [years, median (IQR)] | 49 (18.50) | 51.50 (23) | 0.93 |
| Male [%(n)] | 69.5 (57) | 48.6 (34) | 0.009 |
| -Comorbidities, [%(n)] | |||
| Diabetes | 11.3 (7) | 28.6 (18) | 0.016 |
| Hypercholesterolemia | 49.4 (39) | 47.8 (33) | 0.85 |
| Hypertriglyceridemia | 34.2 (26) | 38.5 (25) | 0.60 |
| Obesity | 61.7 (50) | 68.6 (48) | 0.38 |
| -Liver biopsy, [%(n)] | |||
| Mild Steatosis (<33%) | 73.2 (60) | 12.9 (9) | <0.001 |
| Moderate/Severe Steatosis (≥33%) | 26.8 (22) | 87.1 (61) | <0.001 |
| NASH (Inflammation + Ballooning) | 20.7 (17) | 88.6 (62) | <0.001 |
| Advanced/Severe Fibrosis (≥F3) | 9.8 (8) | 25.7 (18) | 0.009 |
| Cirrhosis (F4) | 3.7 (3) | 11.4 (8) | 0.06 |
| -Laboratory measurements, [median (IQR)] | |||
| Height (m) | 1.67 (0.13) | 1.62 (0.17) | 0.09 |
| Weight (kg) | 86.3 (21.95) | 87.6 (29.35) | 0.88 |
| Body Index Mass (BMI) | 31.05 (36.91) | 32.30 (16.02) | 0.24 |
| Waist (cm) | 104 (19.50) | 105 (20.65) | 0.67 |
| Hip (cm) | 107 (16.38) | 108.25 (15.65) | 0.90 |
| Systolic Blood Pressure (mmHg) | 120 (35) | 140 (28.75) | <0.001 |
| Diastolic Blood Pressure (mmHg) | 75 (30) | 90 (16) | <0.001 |
| Fibroscan * (KPa) | 8.1 (6.4) | 10.35 (7.55) | 0.033 |
| AST (U/L) | 30 (17.50) | 41 (27) | <0.001 |
| ALT (U/L) | 52.50 (29) | 65 (51) | 0.002 |
| GGT (U/L) | 82.50 (97.25) | 68 (73) | 0.45 |
| HOMA-IR score | 3.42 (4.44) | 5.37 (5.08) | <0.001 |
| Total Cholesterol (mg/dL) | 183 (50) | 192 (59.25) | 0.58 |
| HDL Cholesterol (mg/dL) | 43.50 (12.15) | 46.70 (12.80) | 0.59 |
| LDL Cholesterol (mg/dL) | 106.60 (31.38) | 116 (51) | 0.49 |
| Triglycerides (mg/dL) | 134 (96.75) | 133 (99) | 0.62 |
| Glycaemia (mg/dL) | 103 (25) | 109 (32.50) | 0.011 |
| Creatinine (mg/dL) | 0.90 (0.28) | 0.80 (0.28) | 0.003 |
| Uric acid (mg/dL) | 5.90 (1.50) | 5.80 (2.03) | 0.55 |
| Total bilirubin (mg/dL) | 0.62 (0.50) | 0.60 (0.40) | 0.37 |
| Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) | 72 (32.25) | 80 (32) | 0.039 |
| Leukocytes (cells/mL) | 6760 (5750) | 5745 (5170) | 0.28 |
| Platelet (cells/mL) | 254,000 (95,000) | 242,000 (122,250) | 0.35 |
| Ferritin (ng/mL) | 186 (164.20) | 174 (180.20) | 0.93 |
| Albumin (g/dL) | 4.60 (0.70) | 4.40 (0.70) | 0.005 |
| FLI score | 85.26 (84.03) | 81.37 (73.23) | 0.68 |
| HSI score | 42.07 (33.22) | 45.80 (28.73) | 0.033 |
| NFS | −3.59 (3.46) | −2.05 (2.92) | 0.005 |
| FIB4 score | 0.85 (0.64) | 1.06 (1.15) | 0.07 |
| HFS score | 0.019 (0.06) | 0.12 (0.36) | <0.001 |
| APRI score | −3.48 (6.72) | 0.33 (10.55) | 0.001 |