The value of neck circumference (NC) as a predictor of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

J Clin Transl Endocrinol. 2014 Jul 23;1(4):133-139. doi: 10.1016/j.jcte.2014.07.001. eCollection 2014 Dec.

Abstract

Aims: To analyze the correlation between neck circumference (NC) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and compare the predictive value of NC for NAFLD with that of other simple anthropometric measures and other biochemical profiles.

Methods: 2761 subjects, undergoing a medical check-up at the Changhai Hospital between October 01, 2012 and November 30, 2012, were recruited to the study. NC, other simple anthropometric measures, and biochemical profiles were analyzed.

Results: NC in NAFLD subjects with or without elevated ALT were 38.94 ± 2.62 cm and 37.21 ± 3.06 cm respectively, which was significantly higher than that in subjects with other metabolic disorders (NC: 35.33 ± 3.03 cm) and in normal controls (NC: 32.60 ± 2.37) (both P < 0.001). NC in women with NAFLD increased by 1 cm and fasting insulin (FINS) and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) increased by 1.87 mIU/L and 1.43, respectively. Compared with other anthropometric measures, neck circumference-height ratio (NHtR) had a significant impact both on the incidence of NAFLD. After adjustment for sex, abdominal obesity and other influencing factors, the incidence of NAFLD still tended to positively correlate with NC. Optimal cut-off points of NC and NHtR for predicting NAFLD in males were 37.25 cm and 0.224, respectively, and such points in females were 32.90 cm and 0.208, respectively.

Conclusion: NC was wider in NAFLD patients than in healthy subjects and other metabolic disorder sufferers. NC and NHtR could be used as simple predictive tools for NAFLD.

Keywords: ALT, Alanine aminotransferase; AST, Aspartate aminotransferase; AUC, Area under the curve; BMI, Body mass index; BUN, Blood urea nitrogen; CVD, Cardiovascular diseases; FBG, Fasting blood glucose; FINS, Fasting insulin; FT3, Free triiodothyronine 3; FT4, Free thyroxine; HC, Hip circumference; HDL-C, High-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HOMA-IR, Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance; HUA, Hyperuricemia; HbA1c, Hemoglobin A1c; IR, Insulin resistance; Insulin resistance; LDL-C, Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; MS, Metabolic syndrome; NAFLD, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; NC, Neck circumference; NHtR, Neck circumference-height ratio; NWtR, Neck circumference-weight ratio; Neck circumference; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; OR, Odd ratio; QUICKI, Quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index; SUA, Serum uric acid; Scr, Serum creatinine; T2DM, Type 2 diabetes mellitus; TC, Total cholesterol; TG, Triglyceride; TSH, Thyroid stimulating hormone; VAT, Visceral adipose tissue; WC, Waist circumference; Waist circumference; γ-GT, gamma-glutamyltransferase.