The prevalence and predictors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a multicenter retrospective study.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a higher prevalence in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients compared to the general population. Herein, the prevalence and predictors of NAFLD in a large IBD cohort were evaluated by non-invasive method. A multicenter retrospective study was conducted among 592 inpatients diagnosed with IBD who underwent abdominal ultrasound. Characteristics of IBD and metabolic status were collected, presence of hepatic steatosis was assessed, and predictors for NAFLD were analyzed. A total of 509 IBD patients were included in the final analysis including 245 NAFLD (48.1%) subjects. IBD patients with NAFLD were older than those without NAFLD. NAFLD patients had more diabetes, higher body mass index (BMI) and more obesity. The patients with NAFLD showed increased levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase, uric acid, glycemia, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein. The localization of ulcerative colitis showed a more extensive trend in NAFLD patients compared with non-NAFLD subjects. Multivariate analysis showed that NAFLD was independently associated with BMI levels, biologic agents using, and prior surgery in IBD patients. NAFLD is common in Chinese patients with IBD. Obesity and biologics using are risk factors, and prior intestinal surgery is a protective factor of NAFLD development. These findings should be interpreted in the context of an inpatient-based study population.