NAFLD Takes a Toll on Lung Function

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may contribute to lung function decline, according to a new study.

For their study, the researchers assessed 11,892 individuals without hepatic and respiratory disease at baseline who had received regular health examinations including hepatic sonography and spirometry with at least 3 years of follow-up.
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For cross-sectional analyses, multiple regression models were used to evaluate the association between NAFLD and lung function at baseline. Mixed linear regression models with propensity score matching were used to perform longitudinal analysis.

A total of 3815 (32.1%) participants were found to have NAFLD based on sonography. Results of the cross-sectional analysis indicated that those with NAFLD had lower adjusted forced expiratory volume in 1 second compared with controls (men: 3.52 vs 3.44; women: 2.62 vs 2.45).

Findings from the longitudinal analysis indicated that there were no significant differences in the rates of forced expiratory volume in 1 second or forced vital capacity decline among both groups in the propensity score-matched cohorts.

However, those with high NAFLD fibrosis score and fibrosis-4 were found to have significantly faster decline in forced vital capacity compared with those who had lower scores.

“Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was associated with decreased lung function at baseline but was not associated with accelerated lung function decline in the propensity score-matched cohort,” the researchers concluded. “However, hepatic fibrosis was significantly associated with rapid forced vital capacity decline.”

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Lee CH, Choi SH, Chung GE, Park B, Kwak MS. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with decreased lung function. Liver Int. 2018;1-10. doi:10.1111/liv.13860

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