Epidemiology of NAFLD and advanced fibrosis in the French general population: A population-based cohort study in 118, 664 subjects (NASH-CO study).

Commentary

The aim of this study by L. Serfaty et al. was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of NAFLD and associated liver fibrosis in a French population-based cohort (118, 664 participants) by using using the Fatty Liver Index and Forns Index.

The global prevalence of NAFLD in the study population was 16.7%. NAFLD was significantly associated (all p < 0.001) with older age, male sex, obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, hypertriglyceridemia and ALT above normal threshold. Advanced fibrosis was observed in 2.6% of NAFLD subjects, and in 7.6% of NAFLD subjects with diabetes. Age, male sex and metabolic disorders appear as independent risk factors of both NAFLD and advanced fibrosis.