Key result
In patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, female gender was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing colorectal polyps (OR 1.652).
Why the study?
Is NAFLD a risk factor for colorectal polyps?
Observational (n=560)
No
Is NAFLD a risk factor for colorectal polyps?
In patients with NAFLD undergoing colonoscopy, the prevalence of colorectal polyps was 16.6%, with female gender being a significant risk factor.
This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.
Background and Aim : Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered to be the most common of all liver disorders, and its prevalence is almost certainly increasing. Because of the presence of NAFLD in metabolic syndrome and of latter’s role in the appearance of colorectal polyps, many studies have tried to find a link between the liver disease and colorectal polyps. The aim of the study was to determine whether NAFLD is a risk factor for colorectal polyps. Material and Methods : We examined 560 patients diagnosed with NAFLD who underwent colonoscopy at Mures County Hospital, between January 2011 and June 2014. Fatty liver disease was assessed by abdominal ultrasound, with NAFLD defined as fatty liver disease in the absence of alcohol use of > 40 g/week or other secondary causes. We divided the 560 patients into two groups, according to the presence or absence of polyps. Data were collected from patient’s history, physical exam, laboratory tests and abdominal ultrasound. Results : The prevalence of colorectal polyps was 16.6% (93) in the NAFLD patients. 51 (54.8%) of them were female, and the Chi2 test identified a statistically significant association between the female gender and the appearance of polyps (p=0.028; OR=1.652; CI= 1.052-2.596). No statistical association was found between the smoking status and the development of colorectal polyps (p=0.245) and only 18 of 93 patients were smokers. Of 93 patients with polyps, 68 (73.1%) have associated diabetes mellitus, but without statistical correlation (p=0.214). According to family history of colorectal polyps none of the patients have data about a possible polyposis pathology. Conclusions : Our study demonstrates a relationship between some characteristics of NAFLD and the development of colorectal polyps. Further studies are required to confirm whether NAFLD is a risk factor for the appearance of polyps.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May inform sex-specific polyp surveillance in NAFLD; observational link is hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation.
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Bela et al. (2015) conducted an observational in Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (n=560). Female gender vs. Male gender was evaluated on Presence of colorectal polyps (OR 1.652, 95% CI 1.052-2.596, p=0.028). In patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, female gender was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing colorectal polyps (OR 1.652).
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