Association of Non-Invasive Liver Fibrosis Biomarkers with NAFLD in an Apparently Healthy Population: A Matched Case-Control Analysis

This study examined the association between non-invasive liver fibrosis biomarkers and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in an apparently healthy population. A matched case-control design was used to analyze 145 pairs of participants with and without NAFLD. Six liver fibrosis indexes were evaluated: Aspartate Aminotransferase to Alanine Aminotransferase Ratio (AAR), Aspartate Aminotransferase to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI), fibrosis index based on four factors (FIB-4), modified FIB-4 (mFIB-4), Forns Index, and Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase to Platelet Ratio (GPR). Adjusted logistic regression analyses showed significant associations between mFIB-4 and Forns Index with NAFLD, highlighting their potential as tools for early detection. These markers demonstrated consistency across multiple analyses, supporting their potential use for screening asymptomatic individuals, especially in resource-limited settings. However, traditional markers like APRI and GPR showed limited utility in this cohort, emphasizing the need for contextual biomarker selection. Future studies should validate these findings across diverse populations and investigate their diagnostic capabilities in prospective cohort studies to improve early NAFLD detection and intervention.