What is the performance of non-invasive fibrosis scores in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese patients?

Background: Obesity has become a growing health concern and is a major risk factor for nonalcoholicfatty liver disease (NAFLD). The availability of an accurate diagnostictool is Essential to prevent the progression of fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellularcarcinoma. We aimed to evaluate the clinical and predictiveutility of non invasivescores of fibrosisscore in obeseand morbidly obesepatients with NAFLD. Methods: A total of 150 patients with BMI>30 kg/m2 andwithout a known liver diseaseare included in this prospective study. NAFLD was diagnosed based on evidence of hepaticsteatosis on ultrasonography by the same radiologist. The following non-in vasiveliverfibrosisscores were calculated according to the laboratory results: As partatetransaminase (AST) to alaninetransaminase (ALT) ratio (AAR), AST-to-plateletratioindex (APRI), BARD score, andfibrosis 4 (FIB- 4). Results: A total of 150 patients (122 femalesand 28 males) wereincluded in thestudy. The medianage of thesubjectswas 48 years, with a range of 23 to 69 years (2.5-97.5 percentile). Significant differences were observed in HOMA-IR, AAR, APRI, and FIB4 scores between patients with out NAFLD and those with different degrees of hepatosteatosis (p<0.05). The APRI score was found to be a predictor of hepatosteatosis, with an oddsratio of 32.9 (95% confidence interval, 0.230-4711). Conclusion: APRI scoremay be a useful tool for early detection of NAFLD in obeseand morbidly obese patients.