Research Article Details
Article ID: | A07167 |
PMID: | 32594797 |
Source: | Hypertension |
Title: | Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Advanced Fibrosis in US Adults Across Blood Pressure Categories. |
Abstract: | Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common in patients with hypertension but controversy exists as to whether screening for this condition should be performed. Here, we evaluate the prevalence of NAFLD and advanced fibrosis in US adults across blood pressure categories and estimate the number of patients who require referral to hepatologists. In this cross-sectional analysis of 11 489 adults from the 2005 to 2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, participants were segregated as having optimal, normal, high normal, and elevated blood pressure according to the 2018 European Society of Cardiology/Hypertension guidelines. NAFLD was defined using the US fatty liver index, whereas fibrosis was assessed using the NAFLD fibrosis score, fibrosis-4, and Hepamet Fibrosis Score. NAFLD prevalence increased progressively from optimal (16.5%) to normal (34.5%), high normal (39.9%), and elevated blood pressure (50.2%, P<0.001). Patients with hypertension also showed a higher prevalence of advanced fibrosis (3%-9%, based on the specific biomarker used). When the screening flowchart from the European Association for the Study of the Liver, Diabetes, and Obesity guidelines was applied to patients with hypertension, 26.7% needed referral to hepatologists. Risk of referral was higher in Hispanic patients and those with diabetes mellitus, heart failure, and an altered urinary albumin excretion. NAFLD is highly prevalent in US adults with hypertension and a quarter of them would need to be referred to hepatologists because of a high risk of advanced fibrosis. While future studies on cost-effectiveness are needed, screening for NAFLD in these patients could be beneficial. |
DOI: | 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.15220 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
S03 | Anti-fibrosis | fibrosis | Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB); CCR2/CCR5 antagonist; Thyroid receptor β agonist; PEGylated human FGF21 analogue; Monoclonal antibody to lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2); Galectin-3 inhibitor; FGF19 variant | Losartan; Cenicriviroc; VK-2809; MGL-3196; Pegbelfermin; Simtuzumab; GR-MD-02; NGM282 | Details |
Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I12 | 10763 | Hypertension | An artery disease characterized by chronic elevated blood pressure in the arteries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertension, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24352797 | disease of anatomical entity/ cardiovascular system disease/vascular disease/ artery disease | Details |
I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
I14 | 9970 | Obesity | An overnutrition that is characterized by excess body fat, traditionally defined as an elevated ratio of weight to height (specifically 30 kilograms per meter squared), has_material_basis_in a multifactorial etiology related to excess nutrition intake, decreased caloric utilization, and genetic susceptibility, and possibly medications and certain disorders of metabolism, endocrine function, and mental illness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity | disease of metabolism/acquired metabolic disease/ nutrition disease/overnutrition | Details |