Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between leg skeletal muscle mass index (LSMI) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the ability of LSMI to predict NAFLD. METHODS: Two hundred patients with T2DM and NAFLD treated at Changzhou Second People's Hospital Affiliated with Nanjing Medical University and the National Metabolic Management Center from June 2022 to June 2023 were divided into four LSMI quartiles. The clinical information from the four patient groups was compared, and the relationship between type 2 diabetes and LSMI and NAFLD was examined. We used receiver operating characteristic curves to determine how well the LSMI predicts NAFLD in T2DM. RESULTS: The lowest quartile (Q1) had a higher prevalence of NAFLD than group Q4 (P < 0.05). LSMI was negatively associated with body mass index, LS, CAP, and other markers (P < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis LSMI predicted NAFLD with an ideal critical value of 0.64 and an area under the curve of 70.9%. The combined predictive value of the LSMI and the appendicular skeletal muscle mass index was more significant. CONCLUSION: Reduced LSMI is associated with NAFLD.