Predictive Role of Neutrophil-Percentage-to-Albumin Ratio (NPAR) in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Advanced Liver Fibrosis in Nondiabetic US Adults: Evidence from NHANES 2017-2018

Impact of neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio on mortality in iron-deficiency anemia patients: a retrospective study using MIMIC-IV database

BACKGROUND

In the intensive care unit (ICU), the incidence of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) is relatively high and is associated with various adverse clinical outcomes. Therefore, it is crucial to identify simple and practical indicators to assess the mortality risk in ICU patients with IDA. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the Neutrophil Percentage-to-Albumin Ratio (NPAR) levels in patients with IDA in the ICU and their all-cause mortality at 30 and 365 days.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analyzed data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) 3.0 database spanning the years 2008-2022 and identified a cohort of 817 patients with IDA who met our inclusion criteria. Through multivariate Cox regression analysis, the relationship between NPAR levels and 30-day and 365-day mortality risks was assessed, and restricted cubic splines (RCS) models were used to explore potential nonlinear relationships. Additionally, an inflection point analysis was conducted to evaluate the potential of NPAR levels in predicting short- and long-term mortality risks.

RESULTS

The study found that high NPAR levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of 30-day and 365-day mortality in patients with IDA (hazard ratio [HR] range 1.49-2.23, p < 0.001 for all). The relationship between natural logarithmic transformation (ln) NPAR levels and 30-day and 365-day mortality risks exhibited an inverse "L" shaped pattern. Patient mortality risk increased significantly when ln-transformed NPAR levels exceeded 1.2 (HR range 3.366-4.304, p < 0.001 for all). Additionally, subgroup analyses did not reveal any significant interactions, indicating that the predictive effect of NPAR on mortality risk is relatively consistent across different subgroups.

CONCLUSION

We found an inverse "L" shaped relationship between ln-transformed NPAR levels and 30-day and 365-day mortality risks, particularly when ln-transformed NPAR values exceed 1.2, which is significantly associated with an increased risk of death within 30 and 365 days for patients.

Elevated neutrophil-percentage-to-albumin ratio predicts increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in hypertensive patients: Evidence from NHANES 1999-2018

BACKGROUND

This study investigates the association between the neutrophil-percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) and all-cause mortality in patients with hypertension, and its relationship with cardiovascular mortality.

METHODS

This study examined data from 18,469 adults with hypertension in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2018) and the mortality data from the National Death Index. The link between NPAR and mortality risk was visualized using restricted cubic splines. The optimal NPAR cut-off value for the prediction of survival outcomes was identified via maximally selected rank statistics. We employed weighted multivariate Cox regression and subgroup analyses to evaluate the relationship between NPAR and risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. We assessed NPAR's predictive accuracy for survival outcomes using time-related receiver operating characteristic analysis.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 105 months, 31.8 % of 18,469 participants died, with 8.9 % from cardiovascular causes. Restricted cubic splines analysis showed a positive link between NPAR and both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Cox models indicated that higher NPAR (>1602.08) significantly raised risks of all-cause (HR 1.80, 95 % CI 1.54-2.12, p < 0.0001) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.54, 95 % CI 1.24-1.91, p < 0.0001). The stability of results was confirmed through stratified and interaction analyses. The area under the curve for 3-, 5-, and 10-year survival were 0.67, 0.65, and 0.63 for all-cause mortality and 0.61, 0.62, and 0.63 for cardiovascular mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated NPAR independently raises the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in hypertensive patients, indicating its potential in the clinic as a practical tool for predicting long-term mortality risks and influencing treatment strategies.

Association of neutrophil percentage to albumin ratio with gallstones: a cross-sectional study from the United States NHANES

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The neutrophil percentage to albumin ratio (NPAR) is an emerging, costimulatory indicator of inflammation that is associated with a variety of diseases, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. However, the relationship between NPAR and gallstones (GS) has not yet been explored. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the association of the NPAR with the odds of GS and the age of patients at the time of their first GS surgery.

METHODS

Participants were selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in the United States, a nationally representative survey. Logistic regression analysis and dose-response curve were performed to analyze the relationship between NPAR and the prevalence of GS. Multiple linear regression analysis and dose-response curve were used to analyze the association between NPAR and the age of patients at the time of their first GS surgery. Subgroup analyses further explored the relationships between NPAR and age, sex, race, body mass index, hypertension, and diabetes.

RESULTS

In total, 7805 adults aged > 20 years were included in this study, of whom 838 had a history of GS. After adjusting for all potential confounders, each 1-unit increase in NPAR was found to be associated with a 4% increase in the prevalence of GS (odds ratio (OR): 1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02, 1.07) and an advancement in the age of the patient at the time of the first GS surgery by 0.35 years (β = - 0.35, 95% CI: - 0.68, - 0.02). Dose-response curves further confirmed that NPAR was positively associated with the prevalence of GS and negatively associated with the age of patients at the time of their first GS surgery. The results of the subgroup analyses suggested that after adjusting for all potential confounders, the positive association of NPAR with the prevalence of GS was more pronounced in the 40-59-year-old (OR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.12), male (OR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.12), non-Hispanic Black (OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.12), non-hypertensive (OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.10), and non-diabetic populations (OR=: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.08).

CONCLUSIONS

The higher the NPAR, the higher the prevalence of GS, and the earlier the age of the patient at the time of the first GS surgery. Due to the nature of cross-sectional study, it is not possible to determine a causal relationship between them.

Association between Weight-Adjusted Waist Index and Depression in NAFLD: the modulating roles of sex and BMI

BACKGROUND

The Weight-Adjusted Waist Index (WWI) is a novel indicator of obesity that accurately reflects body composition. However, the association between WWI and depression in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains unclear. This study aims to explore this relationship through a nationally representative cross-sectional analysis.

METHODS

This study included adult participants diagnosed with NAFLD from NHANES 2017-2020. WWI was calculated as the waist circumference (cm) divided by the square root of body weight (kg). NAFLD diagnosis relied on vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) with a controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) exceeding 248 dB/m to indicate hepatic steatosis. Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), with scores ≥ 10 indicating the presence of major depression.

RESULTS

After adjusting for all covariates, a significant positive association was found between WWI and depression in NAFLD (OR = 1.725, 95% CI: 1.442-2.063, p < 0.00001), with a dose-response relationship indicated by restricted cubic spline analysis. The association was stronger in men and lean/normal weight NAFLD patients. Adjusting further for BMI did not alter these findings (OR = 1.643, 95% CI: 1.357-1.989, p < 0.00001). BMI's association with depression was negated after adjusting for WWI.

CONCLUSIONS

WWI had a positive association with depression in NAFLD, independent of BMI. This association was more pronounced in men and lean/normal weight NAFLD. These findings suggest that WWI may be a novel indicator of depression in NAFLD and potentially valuable in depression prevention.

Eosinophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Eosinophil Count as New Predictive Markers for Osteoarthritis

Purpose

Despite the association between peripheral blood inflammatory biomarkers and a range of inflammatory diseases, the role of these biomarkers in osteoarthritis (OA) progression remains unclear. Additionally, whether alterations in these inflammatory markers impact the prognosis of OA patients remains an understudied area. The aim of our study was to investigate the specific associations between peripheral blood inflammatory markers and OA progression and OA-related mortality.

Methods

Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 1999 through 2018. The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, and renal disease mortality, with information on the corresponding mortality rates for each participant obtained through association with the National Death Index (NDI). Multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between peripheral blood lymphocyte counts and OA, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was utilized to assess whether there was a nonlinear relationship with OA and mortality of OA patients. Interaction and stratified analyses were employed to explore the association between peripheral blood leukocyte counts and OA.

Results

This study included 1077 OA patients and 21,612 non-OA participants. In model 3 fully adjusted for covariates, eosinophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (ELR) and eosinophil (EOS) were positive risk factors promoting the development of OA (OR = 3.26, 95% CI: 1.49-7.14; OR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.12-2.88). In stratified models for age, sex, BMI, smoking status, and alcohol consumption, the associations of ELR and EOS with OA were significantly different. RCS curves showed a J-shaped relationship between ELR and EOS and all-cause mortality in patients with OA. ELR was also found to significantly up-regulate cardiac mortality and renal mortality in patients with OA (OR = 3.92, 95% CI: 1.68-9.14; OR = 22.55, 95% CI: 6.55-77.70), while EOS was only significantly positively correlation (OR = 3.68, 95% CI: 1.94-7.01).

Conclusion

A significant relationship was found between ELR, EOS and OA. In addition, ELR and EOS were identified as potential predictors of mortality from different causes in patients with OA.

Elevated neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio predicts increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among individuals with diabetes

Evidence regarding the neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) and mortality risk in diabetes patients is scarce. This study aimed at investigating the prognostic value of NPAR for mortality in patients with diabetes. This retrospective analysis was conducted on 6,962 diabetic patients from the NHANES database. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) was used to visualize the association of the NPAR with mortality risk. Weighted multivariable Cox regression models and subgroup analyses were adopted to assess the association of the NPAR with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the NPAR in predicting survival outcomes. Mediation analysis explored the indirect impact of NPAR on mortality mediated through eGFR. During a median follow-up of 6.7 years, there were 1,804 deaths were recorded, including 602 cardiovascular deaths. The RCS regression showed that NPAR has a J-shaped association with all-cause mortality, and a positive linear association with CVD mortality. Each one-unit increase in NPAR was linked with a 14% and 12% increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, respectively. The association was consistent in subgroup analyses based on age, sex, race, BMI, hypertension, CKD, and history of CVD. The time-dependent ROC curve showed the area under the curve of were 0.809 for all-cause mortality, and 0.780 for CVD mortality. In mediation analyses, eGFR partially mediated these relationships. An elevated NPAR is independently associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in diabetes patients.

Association between neutrophil-percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) and metabolic syndrome risk: insights from a large US population-based study

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the association between Neutrophil-Percentage-to-Albumin Ratio (NPAR) and MetS in a large, nationally representative US population. We analyzed data from 28,178 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2018. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between NPAR and MetS. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were employed to assess the dose-response relationship. Mediation analyses were conducted to explore potential mediating effects of serum uric acid and triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index. After adjusting for confounders, participants in the highest NPAR quartile had a 14% higher risk of MetS compared to those in the lowest quartile (OR 1.14, 95%CI 1.03-1.27, P = 0.010). RCS models revealed a monotonic increasing trend between NPAR and MetS risk (P for overall association = 0.002). Mediation analyses showed that serum uric acid and TyG index mediated 14.93% and 29.45% of the total effect of NPAR on MetS, respectively. Subgroup analyses indicated that the positive association between NPAR and MetS was more pronounced in Mexican Americans, individuals aged 20-65 years, those with lower income, males, current smokers, and moderate drinkers. Higher NPAR is associated with increased risk of MetS in the US adult population. This association is partially mediated by serum uric acid and TyG index. These findings suggest that NPAR may serve as a novel biomarker for MetS risk assessment and provide insights into potential mechanisms linking inflammation and metabolic disorders.

Association between nutritional status indices and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in older adults: insights from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018

While previous studies have identified a relationship between dietary intake and the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the influence of overall nutritional status on NAFLD development has not been thoroughly investigated. This study sought to explore the association between different nutritional status indicators and NAFLD among the older adults. Nutritional status was evaluated using controlling nutritional status (CONUT), prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and nutritional risk index (GNRI), while NAFLD was identified based on a controlled attenuation parameter ≥ 285 dB/m, measured using transient elastography. The analysis included multivariate regression, receiver operating characteristic analysis, eXtreme Gradient Boosting and subgroup analysis to investigate the relationships between nutritional status indices and NAFLD. The study enrolled 1409 participants for the main analysis, with an NAFLD prevalence of 44·7 %. After accounting for potential confounders, a positive association between PNI and NAFLD was observed. Participants in the third and fourth quartiles of PNI showed increased odds of NAFLD compared with the lowest quartile (Q3: OR = 1·45, 95 % CI (1·03, 2·05); Q4: OR = 2·27, 95 % CI (1·59, 3·24)). Similarly, higher GNRI quartiles were significantly associated with greater odds of NAFLD (Q4 v. Q1: aOR = 1·84; 95 % CI (1·28, 2·65)). Conversely, higher CONUT values were linked to a reduced prevalence of NAFLD (OR = 0·65, 95 % CI (0·48, 0·87)). This study highlights that suboptimal nutritional status, indicating overnutrition as evaluated by PNI, GNRI and CONUT, is positively linked with the risk of NAFLD in individuals aged 50 years and above.

Salidroside may target PPARα to exert preventive and therapeutic activities on NASH

Background

Salidroside (SDS), a phenylpropanoid glycoside, is an antioxidant component isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Rhodiola rosea and has multifunctional bioactivities, particularly possessing potent hepatoprotective function. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is one of the most prevalent chronic liver diseases worldwide, but it still lacks efficient drugs. This study aimed to assess the preventive and therapeutic effects of SDS on NASH and its underlying mechanisms in a mouse model subjected to a methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet.

Methods

C57BL/6J mice were fed an MCD diet to induce NASH. During or after the formation of the MCD-induced NASH model, SDS (24 mg/kg/day) was supplied as a form of diet for 4 weeks. The histopathological changes were evaluated by H&E staining. Oil Red O staining and Sirius Red staining were used to quantitatively determine the lipid accumulation and collagen fibers in the liver. Serum lipid and liver enzyme levels were measured. The morphology of autophagic vesicles and autophagosomes was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect autophagy-related factor levels. Immunohistochemistry and TUNEL staining were used to evaluate the apoptosis of liver tissues. Flow cytometry was used to detect the composition of immune cells. ELISA was used to evaluate the expression of serum inflammatory factors. Transcript-proteome sequencing, molecular docking, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting were performed to explore the mechanism and target of SDS in NASH.

Results

The oral administration of SDS demonstrated comprehensive efficacy in NASH. SDS showed both promising preventive and therapeutic effects on NASH in vivo. SDS could upregulate autophagy, downregulate apoptosis, rebalance immunity, and alleviate inflammation to exert anti-NASH properties. Finally, the results of transcript-proteome sequencing, molecular docking evaluation, and experimental validation showed that SDS might exert its multiple effects through targeting PPARα.

Conclusion

Our findings revealed that SDS could regulate liver autophagy and apoptosis, regulating both innate immunity and adaptive immunity and alleviating inflammation in NASH prevention and therapy via the PPAR pathway, suggesting that SDS could be a potential anti-NASH drug in the future.

Associations between neutrophil-percentage-to-albumin ratio level and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease-cause mortality in general population: evidence from NHANES 1999-2010

Introduction

Chronic inflammation is a recognized independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), highlighting the need for reliable inflammatory indicator to predict CVDs. As an inflammatory indicator which has been proved to have predictive value for prognosis of CVDs, neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) has obtained increasing attention, but further research is needed to confirm the relationship with mortality in the general population.

Method

This prospective cohort study included 21,317 individuals who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2010, where baseline characteristics and NPAR level were extracted. Data for CVD and all-cause mortality were acquired by linking the cohort database with the National Death Index through December 31, 2019. We employed restricted cubic spline analyses to examine the nonlinear association. Weighted Kaplan-Meier curves with log-rank tests were conducted to access cumulative survival differences across different NPAR results. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to compute hazard ratios and 95% CIs. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare predictive value of NPAR with systemic immune inflammation index (SII) and neutrophils percent.

Results

In this cohort study, during 270,014 person-years of follow-up, 4,074 all-cause deaths and 1,116 CVD-cause deaths were documented. NPAR levels exhibited significant nonlinear associations with both CVD-cause (P = 0.018 for nonlinearity) and all-cause mortality (P < 0.001 for nonlinearity). Participants in the highest NPAR tertile had a significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.33-1.61) and CVD-cause mortality (HR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.32-1.80) compared to those in the lowest tertile in the fully adjusted model, while no association was detected for individuals in the middle tertile. Further ROC analysis confirmed that NPAR had higher predictive value than neutrophil percent segment and SII.

Conclusions

Elevated NPAR level was significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause and CVD-cause mortality in general population. The high predictive value of NPAR, combined with the easy-to-calculate property, suggests that its potential as a novel inflammatory indicator is worthy of further investigation.

Association of systemic immune biomarkers with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: a cross-sectional study of NHANES 2007-2018

Objective

Numerous studies emphasize the pivotal role of inflammation in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) development. Some link specific systemic immune biomarkers (e.g., systemic immuno-inflammatory index [SII], neutrophil-to-albumin ratio [NPAR] and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR]) to hepatic steatosis risk. However, the relevance of other markers like systemic immune-inflammation index [SIRI], platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio [PLR] and lymphocyte/monocyte ratio [LMR] in MASLD remains unclear. Limited literature covers all six markers together. This study aims to investigate the association between SII, SIRI, LMR, NLR, PLR, and NPAR and MASLD, assessing their predictive value.

Methods

In this cross-sectional analysis of adults from NHANES (2007-2018), we investigated the relationship between six systemic immune biomarkers, stratified by quartiles: quartile1 (Q1), quartile2 (Q2), quartile3 (Q3) and quartile4 (Q4), and the outcome of MASLD assessed by Fatty Liver Index (FLI) and United States Fatty Liver Index (USFLI). Logistic regression and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were employed to assess the association between systemic immune biomarkers and MASLD risks. Propensity score matching controlled for potential confounders, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis evaluated the biomarkers' predictive performances for MASLD. Subgroup and interaction analysis were conducted to explore the effects of systemic immune biomarkers on MASLD risks. Multicollinearity was quantified using the variance inflation factor.

Results

In total, 14,413 participants were included and 6,518 had MASLD. Compared with non-MASLD, participants with MASLD had higher SII, SIRI, NLR, PLR, and NPAR (p < 0.001). SII, SIRI, NLR, and NPAR were further validated in the restricted cubic splines (RCS) regression model and identified as positive linear relationships (p for nonlinear >0.05). The prevalence of MASLD increased with the Q4 of SII [OR = 1.47, 95%CI (1.24, 1.74)], SIRI [OR = 1.30, 95%CI (1.09, 1.54)], NLR [OR = 1.25, 95%CI (1.04, 1.49)], PLR [OR = 1.29, 95%CI (1.09, 1.53)] and NPAR [OR = 1.29, 95%CI (1.09, 1.54)] compared to the Q1 after adjusting for the bias caused by potential confounders. However, the propensity score matching analysis only supported an association between the highest SII, SIRI, NLR NPAR and the risk of MASLD. The results of the subgroup analysis showed considerable robustness in the relationship.

Conclusion

Higher SII, SIRI, NLR and NPAR were positively associated with a heightened risk of MASLD. NPAR showed the superior predictive value, followed by SII, SIRI and NLR. This needs to be validated in additional longitudinal studies and clinical trials.

Exploring the influence of anemia and inflammation indices on colorectal cancer: analysis of the national health and nutrition examination survey From 2011 to 2018

Purpose

Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) frequently present with anemia and signs of infection. However, the relationships between these factors remain unclear. This study investigated the potential association between anemia, inflammatory indices, and CRC.

Methods

We analyzed data from the 2011-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to investigate links between anemia, inflammation, and CRC. Inflammatory indices, including the neutrophil-percentage-to-albumin ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and eosinophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, were analyzed. Following rigorous inclusion criteria, 14,114 participants were included. Statistical methods such as logistic regression and subgroup analyses were employed. Moreover, survival analysis was performed.

Results

Among the 14,114 participants, 0.6% had CRC and 11.0% were diagnosed with anemia. Anemia and inflammatory indices were associated with CRC, suggesting an increased risk (OR range: 2.03-2.50, P<0.05). Patients with CRC had lower red blood cell counts, reduced hemoglobin levels, and higher inflammatory indices. This is accompanied by an increase in the inflammatory indices, which is also a risk factor for CRC (OR range: 1.12-7.00, P<0.05). Survival analyses indicated that anemia was associated with lower survival rates, impacting all-cause, cancer, and CRC mortality.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that anemia and inflammatory indices are correlated with CRC. Patients with CRC tend to exhibit increased inflammatory indices and decreased red blood cell count and albumin levels, potentially impacting survival.

Associations of neutrophil-percentage-to-albumin ratio level with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease-cause mortality among patients with hypertension: evidence from NHANES 1999-2010

Background

The associations of neutrophil-percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) level with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-cause mortality among patients with hypertension remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the associations of NPAR level with all-cause and CVD-cause mortality among patients with hypertension.

Methods

This prospective cohort study included 8,990 patients with hypertension who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2010. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to compute hazard ratios and 95% CIs for the associations of NPAR level with all-cause mortality and CVD-cause mortality. Restricted cubic spline analyses were used to examine the nonlinear association of NPAR level with all-cause mortality and CVD-cause mortality.

Results

This cohort study included data from 8,990 participants in analysis. During 104,474 person-years of follow-up, 3,069 all-cause deaths and 1,449 CVD-cause deaths were documented. Nonlinear associations were observed for NPAR levels with risk of all-cause mortality and CVD-cause mortality among patients with hypertension. Compared with participants in T1 of NPAR, there was a significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality and CVD-cause mortality for participants in both T2 and T3 in the fully adjusted model (model 3). The corresponding HRs for all-cause mortality were 1.10 (95% CI, 0.98-1.22) and 1.63 (95% CI, 1.45-1.82). The corresponding HRs for CVD-cause mortality were 1.10 (95% CI, 0.99-1.23) and 1.63 (95% CI, 1.46-1.81).

Conclusions

Elevated NPAR level was significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause and CVD-cause mortality in adults with hypertension. NPAR may be clinically useful for predicting long-term health outcomes and mortality in hypertensive population.

Usefulness of Body Fat and Visceral Fat Determined by Bioimpedanciometry versus Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference in Predicting Elevated Values of Different Risk Scales for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

BACKGROUND

Obesity constitutes a public health problem worldwide and causes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (MALFD), the leading cause of liver disease in developed countries, which progresses to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. MAFLD is associated with obesity and can be evaluated by validated formulas to assess MAFLD risk using different parameters such as the body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). However, these parameters do not accurately measure body fat. As MAFLD is strongly associated with obesity, we hypothesize that measuring body and visceral fat by electrical bioimpedance is an efficient method to predict the risk of MAFLD. The objective of our work was to demonstrate that electrical bioimpedance is a more efficient method than the BMI or WC to predict an elevated risk of MAFLD.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, descriptive study involving 8590 Spanish workers in the Balearic Islands was carried out. The study's sample of employees was drawn from those who underwent occupational medicine examinations between January 2019 and December 2020. Five MAFLD risk scales were determined for evaluating very high levels of body fat and visceral fat. The determination of body and visceral fat was performed using bioimpedanciometry. Student's t-test was employed to ascertain the mean and standard deviation of quantitative data. The chi-square test was used to find prevalences for qualitative variables, while ROC curves were used to define the cut-off points for body and visceral fat. The calculations included the area under the curve (AUC), the cut-off points along with their Youden index, sensitivity, and specificity. Correlation and concordance between the various scales were determined using Pearson's correlation index and Cohen's kappa, respectively.

RESULTS

As both total body fat and visceral fat increase, the risk of MAFLD increases with a statistically significant result (p < 0.001), presenting a higher risk in men. The areas under the curve (AUC) of the five scales that assess overweight and obesity to determine the occurrence of high values of the different MAFLD risk scales were very high, most of them exceeding 0.9. These AUC values were higher for visceral and body fat than for the BMI or waist circumference. FLD-high presented the best results in men and women with the AUC at around 0.97, both for visceral fat and total body fat, with a high Youden index in all cases (women body fat = 0.830, visceral fat = 0.892; men body fat = 0.780, visceral fat = 0.881).

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, all the overweight and obesity scales show a very good association with the scales assessing the risk of MAFLD. These values are higher for visceral and body fat than for waist circumference and the BMI. Both visceral fat and body fat are better associated than the BMI and waist circumference with MAFLD risk scales.

Predictive value of the neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio for coronary atherosclerosis severity in patients with CKD

BACKGROUND

The neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR), which is defined as the percentage of neutrophils divided by the concentration of albumin, is a cost-effective and readily available biomarker of inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the NPAR and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

METHODS

A total of 280 CKD patients who underwent coronary angiography were retrospectively enrolled in this study. The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was evaluated using the Gensini score (GS). Patients were divided into low-, medium- and high-NPAR groups according to the tertiles of the NPAR values. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the relationship between the NPAR and the GS. The cutoff points for the sensitivity and specificity of the NPAR in predicting the GS were estimated via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

RESULTS

There was a higher prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) among CKD patients with higher NPARs (P =0.041). More patients in the high-NPAR group had complex CAD (triple-vessel disease and/or left main coronary artery stenosis) and chronic total occlusion lesions, and more of these patients required revascularization therapy (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between the NPAR and the severity of coronary stenosis (adjusted OR 2.68, 95% CI 1.25-5.76, p=0.012), particularly among female and older (age ≥65) patients. The ROC analysis indicated that the optimal cutoff value for the NPAR in predicting severe coronary artery stenosis (GS>60) in CKD patients was 1.91 (sensitivity 0.495, specificity 0.749), with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.650 (95% CI 0.581-0.719, P<0.001). A subgroup analysis according to sex revealed that the NPAR exhibited stronger predictive value in female patients (AUC 0.730, 95% CI 0.643-0.817) than in male patients (AUC 0.565, 95% CI 0.460-0.670) (P<0.001), and the optimal cutoff value for the NPAR in female patients was 1.80 (sensitivity 0.667, specificity 0.705).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that the NPAR is independently associated with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis in CKD patients, especially in female and elderly patients (≥65 years old). Moreover, the NPAR can effectively predict the severity of coronary atherosclerosis, exhibiting greater predictive value in females than in males.

Neutrophil to albumin ratio: a biomarker in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and with liver fibrosis

Objective

Given the high prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its potential to progress to liver fibrosis, it is crucial to identify the presence of NAFLD in patients to guide their subsequent management. However, the current availability of non-invasive biomarkers for NAFLD remains limited. Therefore, further investigation is needed to identify and develop non-invasive biomarkers for NAFLD.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 11,883 patients admitted to the Healthcare Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, from January 2016 to December 2019 and divided into NAFLD and non-NAFLD groups. Anthropometric and laboratory examination data were collected. The correlations between variables and NAFLD were evaluated using the student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test and binary logistic regression analysis. The predictive ability of these variables for NAFLD was assessed using the areas under the curves (AUCs) of receiver operating characteristics.

Results

Among the included patients, 3,872 (32.58%) were diagnosed with NAFLD, with 386 (9.97%) individuals having liver fibrosis. Patients with NAFLD exhibited a higher proportion of males, elevated body mass index (BMI), and increased likelihood of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and atherosclerosis. Logistic regression analysis identified the neutrophil to albumin ratio (NAR) as the most promising novel inflammation biomarkers, with the highest AUC value of 0.701, a cut-off value of 0.797, sensitivity of 69.40%, and specificity of 66.00% in identifying the risk of NAFLD. Moreover, NAR demonstrated superior predictive value in identifying NAFLD patients at risk of liver fibrosis, with an AUC value of 0.795, sensitivity of 71.30%, and specificity of 73.60% when NAR reached 1.285.

Conclusion

These findings highlight that the novel inflammatory biomarker, NAR, is a convenient and easily accessible non-invasive predictor for NAFLD and NAFLD with liver fibrosis.

Prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and advanced liver fibrosis in US adults: Evidence from NHANES 2017-2020

Objective

This study explored the potential association between the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) and the incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and advanced liver fibrosis (AF) in the adult population of the United States.

Methods

Information on 6409 participants ≥18 years old was downloaded from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2017 to 2020. Multivariate analysis was combined with demographic factors to assess the relationships between PNI, NAFLD, and AF. A restricted cubic spline (RCS) was used to characterise the nonlinear association between the PNI and NAFLD and AF.

Results

Patients without NAFLD had substantially lower mean values for parameters such as age, lymphocyte count, neutrophil count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII), total cholesterol, triglycerides, HbA1c, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) than patients with NAFLD. Interestingly, non-NAFLD patients showed a pronounced increase in serum albumin levels compared to their NAFLD counterparts. In the subset without AF, there were discernibly lower measures of NLR, age, AST, ALT, γ-glutamyl transferase, triglycerides, neutrophil count, and body mass index (BMI) than in patients with AF. It was evident that those without AF had markedly elevated mean albumin and PNI levels in comparison to AF-affected individuals. In the comprehensive multivariable framework, a direct correlation was observed between PNI and NAFLD (adjusted odds ratio[aOR] = 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.09; p < 0.001), whereas PNI and AF were inversely correlated (aOR = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.88-0.96; p < 0.001). Within the RCS model, a swift ascendancy was noted in the relationship between the PNI and NAFLD, peaking at approximately 52. Conversely, a non-linear inverse association was observed between PNI and AF.

Conclusion

Our analytical results indicate that elevated PNI levels are positively associated with an increased risk of NAFLD, but inversely related to the risk of AF. For robust validation of these observations, further research is required.

Association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and increased glucose-to-albumin ratio in adults without diabetes

Background

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects approximately 30% of individuals globally. Both serum glucose and albumin were demonstrated to be potential markers for the development of NAFLD. We hypothesized that the risk of NAFLD may be proportional to the glucose-to-albumin ratio (GAR).

Methods

Based on information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2018, it was determined that GAR was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD and liver fibrosis utilizing weighted multivariable logistic regression. Participants with a fatty liver index (FLI) over 60 were identified with NAFLD, and those with an NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) >0.676 with evidence of NAFLD were labeled with advanced hepatic fibrosis (AHF). The liver biopsy was utilized to verify the relationship between GAR and FLD in our center cohort. Mendelian randomization analysis investigated the genetic relationship between GAR and NAFLD.

Results

Of 15,534 eligible participants, 36.4% of participants were identified as NAFLD without AHF. GAR was positively correlated with the probability of NAFLD following full adjustment for possible variables (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.39-1.67). It was confirmed that patients with NAFLD and AHF had an inferior prognosis. The relationship between GAR and NFS was favorable (R = 0.46, P< 0.0001), and NAFLD patients with a higher GAR tended to develop poor survival. In our center cohort, the association between GAR and NAFLD was verified.

Conclusion

Among participants without diabetes, greater GAR was linked to higher risks of NAFLD. In addition, NAFLD patients with higher GAR tended to develop liver fibrosis and adverse outcomes.

Neutrophils: tissue and circulating signatures of pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

The recent rise in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among children and adolescents led to a thorough investigation of the peculiarities of the cellular infiltrate which characterize the disease at young ages. This review aims to highlight the key involvement of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of pediatric NAFLD and the potential biomarker role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the same pediatric disorder. Neutrophils, which are first responders to inflammation, constitute an abundant component of an infiltrate which is particularly disposed within the portal area of children with NAFLD. The involvement of neutrophils in triggering liver fibrosis has been related amongst others to reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, to the stimulation of hepatic stellate cells, and to their synthesis of neutrophil elastase. As immune imbalance characterizes NAFLD, potentially emerging non-invasive biomarkers such as NLR have been proposed for the detection and prognosis of NAFLD. In adults, several studies asserted the role of NLR in the prediction of advancing liver fibrosis and mortality in subjects with NAFLD. In children, data is scarce with contradicting findings, as some studies failed to identify significant shifting in NLR values in children with NAFLD when compared with obese controls without liver impairment. However, NLR seems to significantly increase in children with obesity and different degrees of NAFLD when compared to healthy counterparts and their changes seem to be reversible with weight loss. Still, paucity of pediatric studies calls for future research addressing the role of NLR in predicting NAFLD development and progression in children with obesity.

The Association of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease With Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Neutrophil-Percentage-to-Albumin Ratio

Background and objective Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely linked to metabolic syndrome, leading to consequences related to dyslipidemia, endothelial dysfunction, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Due to a limited understanding of the factors contributing to the progression of NAFLD, predicting clinical outcomes in patients remains challenging. In light of this, this study aimed to evaluate the association between the occurrence of NAFLD and the neutrophil-percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) as well as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Methods A total of 115 adult patients (mean age: 58 ± 12.5 years; 55.65% male) who underwent abdominal non-contrast-enhanced CT scans were included in the study. The analysis of CT scans was conducted to assess the attenuation values of liver parenchyma. Results  There was a statistically significant difference in terms of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), triglyceride (TG), albumin, and NPAR between individuals with and without hepatic steatosis (GGT p<0.0001, TG p=0.0006, albumin p<0.0001, NPAR p=0.001). However, NLR values between the two groups did not show any statistical differences. NPAR (r=-0.27, p=0.0029) had a weak inverse correlation with liver attenuation value, which is expressed in Hounsfield units (HU). Conclusions Significant differences were observed in GGT, TG, albumin, and NPAR levels between individuals with and without hepatic steatosis. An inverse correlation between NPAR and liver attenuation values was also observed.