Results
In this cross-sectional NHANES 2017-2020 analysis of 5,309 U.S. adults, 37.6% had NAFLD.
- The study used the representative U.S. NHANES database.
- Obesity and metabolic abnormalities were more pronounced in the NAFLD group.
Cardiovascular
Association between the Inflammatory Atherosclerosis Index and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: NHANES 2017-2020.
TL;DR
Among U.S. adults, IAI demonstrates a strong, positive, and nonlinear association with NAFLD, suggesting it is a promising population-level marker for NAFLD, though prospective studies are required for validation.
Key Findings
Results
IAI levels were significantly higher in participants with NAFLD than in those without.
- The abstract reports the difference as significant at "P < 0.001".
- The NAFLD group also showed more pronounced obesity and metabolic abnormalities.
Results
IAI was independently and positively associated with NAFLD in multivariate weighted logistic regression.
- The abstract reports "OR = 1.538, 95% CI: 1.421-1.665".
- Multivariate weighted logistic regression was used to assess the association.
Results
The relationship between IAI and NAFLD was nonlinear, with an inflection point at IAI = 0.145.
- Restricted cubic spline analysis gave "P for nonlinearity = 0.0473".
- The inflection point was at IAI = 0.145.
Results
NAFLD risk rose steeply below the IAI inflection point and the increase was attenuated at or above it.
- When IAI < 0.145: "OR = 2.341, 95% CI: 2.037-2.690".
- When IAI ≥ 0.145: "OR = 1.399, 95% CI: 1.263-1.548".
Results
The IAI-NAFLD association was consistent across subgroups, with no significant interactions.
- Subgroup analyses showed consistent results.
- No significant interactions were found across subgroups.
Results
IAI had the best diagnostic performance for NAFLD among the compared indicators.
- ROC analysis gave "AUC = 0.722" for IAI.
- IAI significantly outperformed other indicators ("all P < 0.001").
Conclusions
The authors conclude that IAI is a promising population-level marker for NAFLD but that prospective validation is needed.
- The study is cross-sectional, so temporal or causal relationships cannot be established.
- The authors state that "prospective studies are required for validation".
What This Means
This study looked at whether a blood-based measure called the inflammatory atherosclerosis index (IAI), which reflects both blood fat levels and inflammation, is linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It used data from 5,309 U.S. adults in a national health survey (NHANES 2017-2020). About 37.6% of these adults had NAFLD, and they tended to have more obesity and metabolic problems and higher IAI values than those without NAFLD. Higher IAI was associated with higher odds of having NAFLD, even after accounting for other factors. The link was not a straight line. The odds rose sharply up to an IAI of about 0.145 and more gradually after that. The association looked similar across different subgroups of people. When the researchers compared IAI with other indicators for identifying NAFLD, it performed best, with an AUC of 0.722, which indicates moderate ability to distinguish people with and without NAFLD. This research suggests IAI could be a useful population-level marker linked to fatty liver disease. However, the study captured a single point in time, so it cannot show that a high IAI leads to NAFLD or predicts who will develop it. The authors say that long-term (prospective) studies are needed before the marker can be considered validated.
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Related Research
Citation
Jiang Y, Xie J, Dong Y. (2026). Association between the Inflammatory Atherosclerosis Index and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: NHANES 2017-2020.. Arquivos brasileiros de cardiologia. https://doi.org/10.36660/abc.20260068