Screening of Diabetic Patients for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Based on Liver Indices: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background and Aims: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) includes a wide spectrum of liver pathophysiology, ranging between relatively benign Nonalcoholic fatty liver to a serious pathology like fibrosis and cirrhosis. NAFLD is commonly associated with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and Metabolic Syndrome and may increase the risk for mortality.
American Diabetes Association and European Association for the study of Diabetes have recommended screening of all T2DM patients for NAFLD.
Materials and Methods: We did a retrospective analysis of medical records of T2DM patients who attended a diabetes clinic as ambulant patients for 1 year. Out of 215 patients, complete demographic, haemodynamic and biochemical data was available for 46 patients. Simple liver indices like Hepatic Steatosis Index (HSI) and Fibrosis score (FIB-4) were computed.
Results: Presence of steatosis was observed in30 patients based on HSI > 36. Out of these, intermediate risk of advanced fibrosis was observed in 4 patients based on FIB-4 > 1.3.
Conclusion: HSI based screening for steatosis and FIB-4 based screening for fibrosis should be part of liver monitoring in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to identify individuals with higher risk for NAFLD.