AUTHOR=Zhou Yuanchen , Duan Shaojie , Wang Rongrui , Chen Jialiang , Yao Shukun TITLE=Nonlinear correlation between fatty liver index and carotid intima media thickness among individuals undergoing health examination JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology VOLUME=14 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2023.1120581 DOI=10.3389/fendo.2023.1120581 ISSN=1664-2392 ABSTRACT=Background

Fatty liver index (FLI) is a predictor of non-alcohol fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aimed to assess the association between FLI and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT).

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 277 individuals for health examination from the China-Japan Friendship Hospital. Blood sampling and ultrasound examinations were conducted. Multivariate logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analyses were performed to evaluate the association between FLI and CIMT.

Results

Overall, 175 (63.2%) and 105 (37.9%) individuals had NAFLD and CIMT, respectively. The multivariate logistic regression analyses results showed that high FLI was independently associated with a high risk of increased CIMT, T2 vs. T1 (odds ratio [OR], 95% confidence interval [CI]): 2.41, 1.10–5.25, p = 0.027; T3 vs. T1 (OR, 95% CI): 1.58, 0.68–3.64, p = 0.285. The association between FLI and increased CIMT exhibited a J-shaped curve (nonlinear, p = 0.019). In the threshold analysis, the OR for developing increased CIMT was 1.031 (95% CI: 1.011–1.051, p = 0.0023) in participants with FLI < 64.247.

Conclusion

The relationship between FLI and increased CIMT in the health examination population is J-shaped, with an inflection point of 64.247.