Triglycerides to high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio is an independent predictor of incident fatty liver; a population‐based cohort study. (5th November 2015) - Fukuda, Yukiko
Abstract: Background: Triglycerides (TG) to high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) ratio (TG/HDL‐C) has been recommended for surrogates of insulin resistance. However, it remains to be elucidated the association between TG/HDL‐C and incident fatty liver. Aims: To investigate the association between TG/HDL‐C and incident fatty liver. Methods: We performed population‐based historical cohort study consisted with 4518 healthy Japanese who received yearly health‐checkup programmes over decade. Fatty liver was diagnosed using ultrasonography. Results: During the observation periods, 38.8% (case/N = 1023/2637) of men and 17.2% (case/N = 324/1881) of women developed fatty liver. Adjusting odds ratio of TG/HDL‐C for incident fatty liver were 1.59 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.42–1.79, P < 0.0001) in men and 2.50 (95% CI 1.80–3.51, P < 0.0001) in women. In addition, adjusting odds ratio of TG/HDL‐C for incident non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease were 1.55 (95% CI 1.35–1.77, P < 0.0001) in men and 2.72 (95% CI 1.88–3.95, P < 0.0001) in women. According to the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis, the optimal cut‐off point of TG/HDL‐C for incident fatty liver was 0.88 (area under the ROC curve (AUC) 0.67 [95% CI 0.65–0.69], sensitivity = 0.64, specificity = 0.60, P < 0.0001) in men and 0.64 (AUC 0.69 [95% CI 0.66–0.72], sensitivity = 0.50, specificity = 0.78, P < 0.0001) in women. Conclusions: The TG/HDL‐C could predict the incident fatty liver. Thus, it is important to check TG/HDL‐C and lifestyles modification is needed for preventing future fatty liver disease in patients with high TG/HDL‐C.