title: Fatty liver, carotid disease and gallstones: a study of age-related associations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate carotid intima-media thickening (IMT) and plaques, gallstone disease (GD) and fatty liver (FL) as a function of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 449 subjects, FL and carotid disease were assessed ultrasonographically. In a subgroup of 65/449 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), carotid disease, GD and associated factors were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FL of unspecified etiology was more common in younger and GD in older individuals. FL subjects had an increased prevalence of IMT and a decreased prevalence of plaques and manifested carotid disease earlier. Plaques were more common in subjects with GD. Age was an independent predictor of carotid disease outcome and FL was a protective factor for plaques. In NAFLD, there was an inverse correlation between body weight and age and the latter independently predicted carotid findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cardiovascular risk in patients with FL and NAFLD needs to be assessed as a function of age and body weight.
authors.affiliation: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia-Azienda USL, Department of Internal Medicine, Metabolism, Endocrinology and Geriatrics, Ospedale di Baggiovara, Via Giardini, 41100 Modena, Italy. a.lonardo@libero.it
authors.forename: Amedeo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lonardo
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lombardini
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scaglioni
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ballestri
authors.forename: Anna-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Verrone
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertolotti
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carulli
authors.forename: Dorval
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ganazzi
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carulli
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Loria
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D001835:Body Weight; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography