title: Association between anthropometric parameters and measurements of liver stiffness by transient elastography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the association between anthropometric parameters and results of liver stiffness measurements (LSMs) by transient elastography in healthy subjects and patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed anthropometric and LSM data from 658 healthy subjects (37% male; mean age, 47 ± 11 years; body mass index [BMI], 21.8 ± 3.0 kg/m(2); LSM, 4.4 ± 1.6 kPa) and 247 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD (50% male; mean age, 48 ± 11 years; BMI, 28.6 ± 6.5 kg/m(2); LSM, 9.6 ± 8.7 kPa). Healthy subjects were defined as individuals without viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, or NAFLD. We investigated associations between anthropometric parameters, including BMI and waist circumference, and LSM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LSMs were slightly higher among healthy subjects with BMIs ≤ 18.5 kg/m(2) (n = 84, 4.8 ± 1.5 kPa) and BMIs of 25-29.9 kg/m(2) (n = 76, 5.3 ± 2.2 kPa) than those with BMIs of 18.5-24.9 kg/m(2) (n = 492, 4.5 ± 1.9 kPa; P = .16 by analysis of variance). Among patients with NAFLD of Brunt fibrosis stage 0 or 1, LSMs were lowest among those with BMIs of 18.5-24.9 kg/m(2) (stage 0: n = 34, 5.5 ± 2.2 kPa; stage 1: n = 18, 7.2 ± 3.8 kPa). LSMs were higher among those with BMIs of 25-29.9 kg/m(2) (stage 0: n = 41, 6.1 ± 1.3 kPa; stage 1: n = 26, 7.9 ± 3.5 kPa) and highest for those with BMIs ≥30 kg/m(2) (stage 0: n = 13, 8.5 ± 2.2 kPa; stage 1: n = 22, 11.7 ± 5.2 kPa) (P < .001 and P = .002, respectively, by analysis of variance). High BMI was independently associated with high LSM, in addition to fibrosis stage, among patients with NAFLD. Patients with different waist circumferences had comparable LSMs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BMI ≥30 kg/m(2) is associated with higher LSMs in patients with NAFLD, after adjusting for fibrosis stage.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Digestive Disease, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Grace Lai-Hung
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Henry Lik-Yuen
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Paul Cheung-Lung
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Anthony Wing-Hung
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Angeline Oi-Shan
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Angel Mei-Ling
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chim
authors.forename: Vincent Wai-Sun
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006805:Human Experimentation; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease