Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by abnormal lipid metabolism and inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between neutrophil-HDL cholesterol ratio (NHR) and NAFLD in a healthy population. METHODS: 1881 healthy people who underwent a physical examination from August to December 2023 at the Hebei General Hospital were chosen for this cross-sectional study. 936 individuals were ultimately included thanks to propensity matching and exclusion criteria. Ultrasound was used to diagnose fatty liver and a t-test or Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the clinical characteristics of participants between groups with and without fatty liver. Logistic regression was used to construct a new model that included NHR. The predictive value of NHR as well as the new model for NAFLD in a healthy population was assessed using logistic regression and subject work characteristic curves. RESULTS: NHR levels were higher among participants in the NAFLD group than those without NAFLD(P<0.05). NHR is a risk factor for NAFLD in a healthy population(P<0.05). The odds ratios (ORs) of NHR for predicting NAFLD in Model I (adjusted for sex, age, and BMI) and Model II (adjusted for sex, age, BMI, HbA1c, TC, TG, and ALT) were 1.166 (1.022, 1.331) and 1.248 (1.110, 1.402)(P<0.05). The new model created by logistic regression predicted NAFLD with an area under the curve of 0.676 (0.645, 0.706). Compared to participants in the low NHR group, the high NHR group exhibited a higher prevalence of NAFLD(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: NHR is associated with NAFLD, which is a good predictor of NAFLD in a healthy population.