Obstructive Sleep Apnea Is Associated With Fatty Liver Index,the Index Of Hepatic Steatosis

Objectives The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea(OSA) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) are gaining increased attention. The aim of present study was to examine the effect of OSA on hepatic steatosis defined by elevated fatty liver index(FLI).Methods A total of 145 consecutive patients who underwent standard polysomnography were enrolled. Fasting blood samples were obtained from all patients for biological profile measurements, and demographic data were collected. FLI was calculated using body mass index, waist circumference, triglycerides, and gamma glutamyl transferase for each patient. Subjects were divided into two groups: group 1 was defined as FLI<60; group 2 was defined as FLI≥60. Subjects were divided into two groups: OSA group with AHI≥15 events/h, control group with AHI<15events/h.Results Subjects with FLI≥60 had significantly lower lowest O2 saturation(73 vs. 83%, p<0.001), lower mean nocturnal oxygen saturation(93 vs. 95%, p<0.001), higher apnea-hypopnea index(40 vs. 18, p<0.001), higher oxygen desaturation index(39 vs. 11, p<0.001) and higher percentage of sleep time spent with Sp O2<90%(5 vs. 1%, p<0.001) compared with those with FLI<60. There were significant and positive correlations between FLI and the following variables: AHI, T90%, ODI, glucose, TC, TG, LDL-C, ALT, AST, MAP(r=0.489, 0.440, 0.500, 0.321, 0.399, 0.726, 0.290, 0.537, 0.309 and 0.349, respectively; all p<0.001). In binary logistic analysis, the presence of OSA was independently associated with elevated FLI after adjusting for confounding factors(odds ratio, 4.213; 95% confidence interval, 1.380 to 12.859, p=0.012).Conclusions our results suggest that the occurrence of OSA was independently associated withhepatic steatosis defined by elevated FLI. Further studies are required to determine the impact of OSA treatment on the outcomes of patients with NAFLD.