Published online Feb 28, 2017. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v9.i6.326
Peer-review started: September 9, 2016
First decision: October 20, 2016
Revised: January 3, 2017
Accepted: February 8, 2017
Article in press: February 13, 2017
Published online: February 28, 2017
Processing time: 172 Days and 9.6 Hours
To perform a systematic review to evaluate the incidence and prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adult patients with sarcopenia.
Randomized clinical trials, cross-sectional or cohort studies including adult patients (over 18 years) with sarcopenia were selected. The primary outcomes of interest were the prevalence or incidence of NAFLD in sarcopenic patients. In the screening process, 44 full-text articles were included in the review and 41 studies were excluded.
Three cross-sectional studies were included. The authors attempted to perform a systematic review, but due to the differences between the studies, a qualitative synthesis was provided. The diagnosis of NAFLD was made by non-invasive methods (image methods or any surrogate markers) in all three evaluated studies. All the studies suggested that there was an independent association between sarcopenia and NAFLD.
Sarcopenia is independently associated with NAFLD and possibly to an advanced fibrosis.
Core tip: The aim of the present study was to perform a systematic review evaluating the incidence and prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adult patients with sarcopenia. Randomized clinical trials, cross-sectional or cohort studies including adult patients (over 18 years) with sarcopenia were selected. The primary outcomes of interest were the prevalence or incidence of NAFLD in sarcopenic patients, and three cross-sectional studies were finally included. There was an independent association between sarcopenia and NAFLD in all the studies. In conclusion, sarcopenia is independently associated with NAFLD and possibly to an advanced fibrosis.