Identification of risk groups for advanced liver fibrosis in the general population using the Fibrosis‐3 index

• Published in: JGH open 2024-07, Vol.8 (7), p.e70010-n/a
• Main Authors: Kariyama, Kazuya, Kawanaka, Miwa, Nouso, Kazuhiro, Wakuta, Akiko, Shiota, Shohei, Kurisu, Akemi, Sugiyama, Aya, Akita, Tomoyuki, Kumada, Takashi, Tanaka, Junko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Alcohol; Blood platelets; Body mass index; FIB‐3 index; FIB‐4 index; general health checkup; Hepatitis C; Liver cancer; Liver cirrhosis; Liver diseases; liver fibrosis; metabolic dysfunction‐associated liver disease; Metabolism; Older people; Original; Population; Ultrasonic imaging
• ISSN: 2397-9070; 2397-9070
• DOI: 10.1002/jgh3.70010

Background and Aim We conducted a study using the Fibrosis‐3 (FIB‐3) index, which is the established age‐independent index of fibrosis in nonviral liver disease and addresses the limitations of the FIB‐4 index in older age group, to assess the liver fibrosis risk among diverse demographic groups in the general population. Methods We analyzed 31 327 individuals who underwent health examinations between 2013 and 2020 and investigated the distribution of the FIB‐3 index by age group. In addition, we examined the age distribution of the FIB‐3 index stratified by background factors, such as sex, body mass index (BMI), alcohol consumption habits, and the presence or absence of fatty liver. Results In terms of age‐specific distribution, the FIB‐3 index remained below 1.5 in >90% of cases until the age of 50 years but exceeded 1.5 beyond the age of 50 years, in approximately 30% among those aged 70 years. Notably, the FIB‐3 index above 31 years old was significantly higher in men than in women. Among the different BMI categories, individuals with BMI