Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 7, 2013; 19(45): 8301-8311
Published online Dec 7, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i45.8301
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with benign gastrointestinal disorders
Srinevas K Reddy, Min Zhan, H Richard Alexander, Samer S El-Kamary
Srinevas K Reddy, H Richard Alexander, Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
Min Zhan, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
Samer S El-Kamary, Departments of Pediatrics, Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
Author contributions: Reddy SK, Zhan M and EL-Kamary SS designed the project; Reddy SK extracted and analyzed the data, and wrote the manuscript; Zhan M provided biostatistical expertise; Alexander HR critically revised the manuscript; El-Kamary SS analyzed the data, and critically revised the manuscript.
Supported by NIH 2K12HD043489-11
Correspondence to: Dr. Srinevas K Reddy, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 22 South Greene Street-Rm S4B18, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States. sreddy@smail.umaryland.edu
Telephone: +1-919- 4233291 Fax: +1-410-3285919
Received: May 22, 2013
Revised: July 11, 2013
Accepted: July 18, 2013
Published online: December 7, 2013
Processing time: 209 Days and 10.9 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: This study analyzed the 2010 Nationwide Inpatient Sample to compare outcomes and associations between patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and other chronic liver diseases. Compared with other liver diseases, NAFLD is associated with diverticular, inflammatory bowel, gallstone, and benign pancreatitis disorders when these latter disorders are considered as either the principal or associated diagnoses on discharge. These associations suggest shared mechanisms of pathology between NAFLD and these benign gastrointestinal disorders. Furthermore, patients with NAFLD have lower hospital mortality and consume fewer healthcare resources compared to patients with other chronic liver diseases.