FATTY LIVER INDEX IS POSITIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH ARTERIAL STIFFNESS IN A CHINESE POPULATION

Objective: Non-alcoholic fatty fiver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic liver injury closely related to insulin resistance. Fatty liver index (FLI) can be used as a surrogate marker and validated index for NAFLD. This study aimed to explore the relationship between FLI and arterial stiffness in a Chinese population. Design and method: From December 2017 to March 2019, a total of 405 inpatients (mean age 51.16 ± 11.92 years) were recruited for cardiovascular disease screening at Ruijin Hospital North, Shanghai.Measurement of brachial systolic, diastolic, mean and pulse pressure. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) was measured (SphygmoCor) to assess the arterial stiffness. Results: Subjects were divided into 3 groups according to their FLI <30,normal; 30–59, intermediate fatty liver index; > = 60, NAFLD. The proportion of subjects with hepatic steatosis (FLI> 60), intermediate FLI (30–59), and no steatosis (FLI <30) was 34.6%, 31.6% and 33.8%, respectively. The male population (53.9%) had significantly higher FLI levels (p < 0.05). Subjects with FLI > 60 had higher cfPWV than those with FLI < 30 (p = 0.006). cfPWV was positively correlated with FLI (r = 0.143, p = 0.004). After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, PDP, glucose, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol and LDL, FLI remained positively associated with cfPWV (p = 0.011). Conclusions: cfPWV, as a measure of arterial stiffness, is higher in the NAFLD group when compared to that in normal groups. Fatty liver index is positively associated with arterial stiffness in a Chinese population.