Relationship between ultrasound features of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiometabolic risk factors in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes

INTRODUCTION It is suggested that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) correlates with cardiometabolic risk factors in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of ultrasound features of NAFLD in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and their relationship with cardiometabolic risk factors.
PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included 100 consecutive patients (mean age, 55.64 ±13.42 years) with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, without other causes of hepatosteatosis. In each patient, medical history was taken, physical and abdominal ultrasound examinations were performed, and anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured. Based on the results of an ultrasound examination, patients were assigned to 2 groups: with (n = 71) and without (n = 29) NAFLD.
RESULTS NAFLD was present in more than 70% of the patients with diabetes. In patients with NAFLD, significantly higher mean values of body weight, waist and hip circumferences, body mass index, liver enzyme activity, serum C‑reactive protein, total cholesterol, and triglycerides and significantly lower levels of high‑density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were observed. There were no significant differences in the parameters of glycemic control between the groups. A correlation was observed between ultrasound features of NAFLD and some cardiovascular risk factors. Increased waist circumference and serum γ‑glutamyltransferase level and decreased HDL‑cholesterol levels were shown to be independent risk factors of NAFLD.
CONCLUSIONS Liver ultrasound should be performed in every patient with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Our findings indicate a relationship between NAFLD and multiple cardiometabolic risk factors. The measurement of selected biochemical and anthropometric parameters may be used to assess the risk of NAFLD in this patient group.