Association of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiometabolic risk factors with early atherosclerosis in an adult population in Southern Italy

Aim. The prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases was investigated in an adult population of the city of Cittanova, Southern Italy. Methods. The study was conducted among 992 randomly selected adults aged 18-75 years, between April 2009 and January 2011. Results. Prevalence rates of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), overweight, obesity, and metabolic syndrome (MS) were 24.8%, 41.5%, 27.1%, and 34.4%, respectively. For the components of MS, prevalence of central obesity was 47.4%, impaired fasting glucose (IFG) 34.7%; hypertension 53.7%, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol 34.2%, and hypertriglyceridemia 27.2%. Conclusions. Hypertension, central obesity, IFG, low HDL cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia, MS, and increased carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) were significantly associated with NAFLD after adjustment for age and sex. With additional adjustment for body mass index (BMI), IMT and MS (depending on the prevalence ratio that was investigated), the positive association between the NAFLD and increased IMT lost statistical significance, while that with body mass index (BMI) and MS remained significant.