Correlation between sTfR, liver/spleen CT ratio and mild cognitive impairment in elderly patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To investigate the relationship between serum soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), liver/spleen CT ratio and cognitive function in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods A total of 110 elderly patients with NAFLD and 50 healthy people who were treated in Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from March 5, 2019 to March 5, 2020 were retrospectively included. The cognitive function was measured using the Montreal Cognitive Function Scale(MoCA). Among them, the elderly patients with NAFLD were classified into MCI group(MoCA>26, 61 cases) and non-MCI group(MoCA <26, 49 cases). Additionally, there were 50 healthy subjects assigned to the control group. The differences in the baseline data of the three groups were collected and compared, and the MoCA was used to evaluate the cognitive function. The Pearson correlation was further used to analyze the correlation between the MoCA score and the above indicators in elderly NAFLD patients, and then logistic regression was performed to analyze the correlation. Risk factors for NAFLD patients with MoCA score < 26 (MCI). Results The ratios of left NAA/Cr, right NAA/Cr, sTfR, liver/spleen CT ratio decreased in the control group, non-MCI group, and MCI group in turn, and the difference between groups was significant (P<0.05); No significant difference was found in the proportion of patients with BMI>25, MocA score, TG and LDL-C levels between the control group and non-MCI group. When compared with the control group and non-MCI group, the proportion of patients with BMI≥25, TG and LDL-C levels were significantly higher, and the MoCA scores were significantly lower (all P<0.05) in the MCI group, . MoCA score in elderly patients with NAFLD was positively correlated with left NAA/Cr, right NAA/Cr, sTfR, liver/spleen CT ratio, and negatively correlated with LDL-C level(P＜0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that sTfR, liver/spleen CT ratio, BMI≥25, and TG level were risk factors for MCI in elderly patients with NAFLD (P＜0.05). Conclusion sTfR and liver/spleen CT ratio are risk factors for MCI in elderly patients with NAFLD, and both are positively correlated with MCI.

Key words: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, Mild cognitive impairment, Soluble transferrin receptor, Liver-spleen CT ratio

ZHANG Wei, LIU Qing-lin, ZHANG Man, AN Yang, CAO Mu-han. Correlation between sTfR, liver/spleen CT ratio and mild cognitive impairment in elderly patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease[J]. Chinese Hepatolgy, 2024, 29(1): 105-109.

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