Takumi Kawaguchi1,2, Tetsuaki Inokuchi3,2, Tomoki Honma4,2, Satoshi Itano5,2, Eiji Kawasaki6,2, Chizuko Inada7,2, Toshichika Aoki8,2, Naohira Tsumura9,2, Akiteru Araki10,2, Tokunori Mukae11,2, Takuji Torimura1. 1. Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan. 2. Kurume Internal Medical Association. 3. Inokuchi Clinic, Kurume, Japan. 4. Homma Internal Medicine & Cardiovascular Clinic, Kurume, Japan. 5. Kurume-Chuo Hospital, Kurume, Japan. 6. Diabetes Center, Shin-Koga Hospital, Kurume, Japan. 7. Inada Medical Clinic, Kurume, Japan. 8. Aoki Internal Medicine Digestive Clinic, Kurume, Japan. 9. Tsumura Clinic, Kurume, Japan. 10. Division of Medical Information, St.Mary's Hospital, Kurume, Japan. 11. Mukae Internal Medicine Clinic, Kurume, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Advanced hepatic fibrosis can occur in patients with various diseases, including diabetes mellitus and hypertension. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of advanced hepatic fibrosis in patients with various internal diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a community-based survey in which 1012 patients were enrolled (mean age, 63.1 ± 10.8 years; female/male, 505/507). Hepatic fibrosis was evaluated by Fib-4 index and patients were classified into high and low Fib-4 groups. Independent factors for the high Fib-4 group were analyzed using logistic regression and decision tree analysis. RESULTS: A high prevalence of high Fib-4 index was observed in patients with cardiovascular diseases; 37.1% of patients with hypertension belonged to the high Fib-4 group. Independent factors associated with the high Fib-4 group were BMI (OR 0.95, 95%CI 0.918-0.989, P < 0.01), male sex (OR 1.35, 95%CI 1.03-1.78, P < 0.05), and hypertension (OR 1.41, 95%CI 1.03-1.92, P < 0.05). In patients with hypertension, a decision tree algorithm revealed three profiles for Fib-4 index: 1) creatinine level < 0.76 mg/dL (high Fib-4; 30.0%), 2) creatinine level ≥ 0.76 mg/dL without sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) treatment (high Fib-4; 48.2%), and 3) creatinine level ≥ 0.76 mg/dL with SGLT2i treatment (high Fib-4; 23.5%). CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of advanced hepatic fibrosis was observed in patients with hypertension. Hypertension was an independent risk factor, and creatinine level and SGLT2i were divergence variables for advanced hepatic fibrosis. Thus, hypertension with chronic kidney injury may exacerbate hepatic fibrosis, while SGLT2i treatment may ameliorate hepatic fibrosis.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Advanced hepatic fibrosis can occur in patients with various diseases, including diabetes mellitus and hypertension. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of advanced hepatic fibrosis in patients with various internal diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a community-based survey in which 1012 patients were enrolled (mean age, 63.1 ± 10.8 years; female/male, 505/507). Hepatic fibrosis was evaluated by Fib-4 index and patients were classified into high and low Fib-4 groups. Independent factors for the high Fib-4 group were analyzed using logistic regression and decision tree analysis. RESULTS: A high prevalence of high Fib-4 index was observed in patients with cardiovascular diseases; 37.1% of patients with hypertension belonged to the high Fib-4 group. Independent factors associated with the high Fib-4 group were BMI (OR 0.95, 95%CI 0.918-0.989, P < 0.01), male sex (OR 1.35, 95%CI 1.03-1.78, P < 0.05), and hypertension (OR 1.41, 95%CI 1.03-1.92, P < 0.05). In patients with hypertension, a decision tree algorithm revealed three profiles for Fib-4 index: 1) creatinine level < 0.76 mg/dL (high Fib-4; 30.0%), 2) creatinine level ≥ 0.76 mg/dL without sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) treatment (high Fib-4; 48.2%), and 3) creatinine level ≥ 0.76 mg/dL with SGLT2i treatment (high Fib-4; 23.5%). CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of advanced hepatic fibrosis was observed in patients with hypertension. Hypertension was an independent risk factor, and creatinine level and SGLT2i were divergence variables for advanced hepatic fibrosis. Thus, hypertension with chronic kidney injury may exacerbate hepatic fibrosis, while SGLT2i treatment may ameliorate hepatic fibrosis.