NAFLD fibrosis score: A prognostic predictor for mortality and liver complications among NAFLD patients

Table 2 Clinical parameters, laboratory features and clinical outcomes at the end of follow-up by nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score at baseline n (%) (mean ± SD)

Variable at the end of follow-up	Patients with a low probability ofadvanced liver fibrosis	Patients with an intermediate or high probability of advanced liver fibrosis	P value
	(NFS < -1.5) (n = 181)	(NFS > -1.5) (n = 121)
Clinical findings
BMI (kg/m2)	32.9 ± 6.6	34.9 ± 7.6	0.02
Obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2)	119 (65.8)	91 (75.2)	0.08
NFS	-1.4 ± 1.3	0.4 ± 1.4	< 0.0001
NFS of intermediate or high probability of advanced liver fibrosis	85 (47)	114 (94)	< 0.0001
History of diabetes	54 (29.8)	83 (68.6)	< 0.0001
Use of metformin	32 (17.7)	48 (39.7)	< 0.0001
Use of glitazones	10 (5.5)	19 (15.7)	0.003
Use of aspirin	84 (46)	83 (69)	0.0001
History of hypothyroidism	19 (10.5)	31 (25.6)	0.0005
History of cholecystectomy	27 (15)	33 (27.3)	0.008
History of obstructive sleep apnea	33 (18.2)	34 (28.1)	0.04
Laboratory findings
AST (U/L)	38.9 ± 30.6	33.2 ± 17.8	0.04
ALT (U/L)	53.9 ± 49.7	38.9 ± 21	0.0004
AST/ALT ratio	0.8 ± 0.5	1.0 ± 0.8	0.03
Hematocrit (%)	40.4 ± 4.4	38.6 ± 5.3	0.003
Platelets (× 109/L)	259 ± 67	217 ± 74	< 0.0001
Albumin (g/dL)	4.1 ± 0.4	3.9 ± 0.6	< 0.0001
Cholesterol (mg/dL)	193 ± 40	178 ± 43	0.005
LDL-cholesterol (mg/dL)	109 ± 34	92 ± 30	< 0.0001
Glucose (mg/dL)	119 ± 42	131 ± 42	0.02
Clinical outcomes at the end of follow-up
Lost to follow up	27 (15)	8 (7)
Alive with continued follow-up	131 (72)	81 (67)
Presence of primary endpoints	23 (13)	32 (26)	0.002
All-cause death	12 (6.6)	27 (22.3)	< 0.0001
New events of coronary heart disease	15 (8.3)	15 (12.4)	0.24
Liver complications	1 (0.6)	5 (4.1)	0.03

NAFLD: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; BMI: Body mass index; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; NFS: NAFLD fibrosis score; LDL: Low-density lipoprotein.