ANALYSIS OF PREDICTIVE INDICATORS FOR NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE IN ATHLETIC PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to examine the predictive indicators for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) specifically in athletic individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), diverging from the broader demographic to focus on this unique subset.

Methods: We conducted a study involving 200 athletic patients with T2DM treated at our hospital from January 2020 to May 2021. These participants were divided into two groups: those diagnosed with NAFLD (n=100) and a control group without liver disease (n=100). We analyzed basic and lipid profile indicators across both groups to assess their predictive value for NAFLD.

Results: Significant differences were observed between the NAFLD group and the control group in terms of body mass index (BMI), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), the ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDL), and the ratio of LDL to HDL (LDL/HDL), with the NAFLD group showing higher values in all but HDL, which was notably lower (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis identified BMI, TG, TC/HDL, LDL/HDL, HDL, and LDL as significant predictors of NAFLD in this population.

Conclusion: Among athletic patients with type 2 diabetes, the study highlights total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol as particularly sensitive indicators for predicting NAFLD. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring lipid profiles in this demographic for early detection, prevention, and management of NAFLD.