ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the correlation between lean nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic indicators in a young and middle-aged population undergoing physical examination.Methods:It was a cross-sectional study. A total of 8 250 individuals who underwent routine physical examinations at the Health Medical Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January to December 2021 and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected as the research subbjects. The general examination, fasting blood glucose, blood lipids, liver function, renal function, and fasting color ultrasound examination results were analyzed retrospectively to assess the correlation between lean NAFLD and major metabolic indicators using independent sample t-test, chi-square test, and multivariable logistic regression. Results:The prevalence of lean NAFLD was higher in men than in women (50.7% vs. 49.3%, χ2=97.261, P<0.001). After stratifying the age of onset of lean NAFLD, the peak age of onset was found to be between 45 and 59 years, with the prevalence gradually increasing with age. When stratified by body mass index (BMI), the peak incidence of lean NAFLD was observed in individuals with a BMI of ≥20 and <23 kg/m 2, with the prevalence showing a significant upward trend as BMI increased. The systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, fasting blood glucose, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyltransferase, and serum uric acid in lean NAFLD groupwere all significantly higher than those in lean non-NAFLD group (all P<0.01), and the level of high density lipoprotein was significantly lower than that of lean non-NAFLD group ( t=23.755, P<0.001). The logistic analysis showed that systolic blood pressure ( OR=1.258, 95% CI: 1.081-1.465), diastolic blood pressure ( OR=1.282, 95% CI: 1.056-1.557), total cholesterol ( OR=1.712, 95% CI: 1.525-1.923), triglyceride ( OR=4.115, 95% CI: 3.621-4.676), alanine aminotransferase ( OR=1.467, 95% CI: 1.104-1.950), γ-glutamyltransferase ( OR=1.482, 95% CI: 1.242-1.769), fasting blood glucose ( OR=2.479, 95% CI: 2.092-2.939) and serum uric acid ( OR=1.390, 95% CI: 1.236-1.563) were independent metabolic risk factors for lean NAFLD (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The levels of various metabolic markers in young and middle-aged patients with lean NAFLD increase, and the risk of lean NAFLD increases. Metabolic markers are helpful to screen people at risk of lean NAFLD.