title: Hypertension and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease proven by transient elastography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hypertension is poorly understood. In the present study, we aimed to assess the relationship between essential hypertension and NAFLD, by using a new diagnostic tool, transient elastography (TE).
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 836 subjects in this study. All subjects underwent a comprehensive questionnaire survey and blood test. Each patient had undergone TE to detect the controlled attenuation parameter, which was used to and quantify liver steatosis with the help of TE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants with hypertension showed a higher prevalence of NAFLD defined by TE (P < 0.05). After adjusting for body mass index (BMI), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the odds ratio for NAFLD, comparing the grade 3 group (systolic blood pressure level ≥ 180 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure level ≥ 110 mmHg) with the normal group, was 1.476 (95% confidence interval, 1.166-2.551). A stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis (R2= 0.084, P = 0.043) retained NAFLD, BMI, and AST as significant predictors of the systolic blood pressure levels. Additionally, stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis (R2= 0.199, P = 0.037) retained NAFLD, controlled attenuation parameter, BMI, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol as significant predictors of diastolic blood pressure levels. In addition, BMI, AST, and alanine aminotransferase were associated with systolic blood pressure levels among individuals with NAFLD; BMI, AST, and total cholesterol were associated with diastolic blood pressure levels among individuals with NAFLD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main finding of our study is that hypertensive patients have a higher prevalence of NAFLD defined by TE, and NAFLD is independently associated with hypertension and blood pressure category.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Management Center, The Third XiangYa Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.
authors.forename: Yaohui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Management Center, The Third XiangYa Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.
authors.forename: Yuhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Third XiangYa Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.
authors.forename: Changwei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Management Center, The Third XiangYa Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.
authors.forename: Zhiheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: controlled attenuation parameter; essential hypertension; hepatic steatosis; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; transient elastography