Association Between Liver Fibrosis Score and Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study of Hospitalized Patients

Objectives To investigate the association between liver fibrosis score and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods A total of 897 hospitalized patients with T2DM were included in this study. Each patient completed DKD screening. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the predictive value of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NAFLD-FS) and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) for the occurrence of DKD and risk for DKD progression, respectively.

Results The prevalence of DKD and risk for its progression significantly increased with increasing NAFLD-FS risk category. DKD prevalence also increased with increasing FIB-4 risk category. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the “high-risk” NAFLD-FS had a significantly higher risk of DKD (odds ratio [OR]: 1.89, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16–3.08) and risk for DKD progression (OR: 2.88, 95% CI: 1.23–6.78), and the “intermediate-risk” FIB-4 had a significantly higher risk of DKD (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.00–1.98). Subgroup analysis showed that the association between NAFLD-FS and FIB-4 and DKD was significant in the female subgroup, whereas the association between the “high-risk” NAFLD-FS and risk for DKD progression was significant in the male subgroup.

Conclusions NAFLD-FS and FIB-4 are strongly associated with DKD and risk for DKD progression in patients with T2DM. Additionally, sexual dimorphism exists in this association.