Scientific publications

Association between Sleep Disturbances and Liver Status in Obese Subjects with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Comparison with Healthy Controls. Scientific Publication

Feb 2, 2019 | Magazine: Nutrients

Bertha Araceli Marin-Alejandre  1 , Itziar Abete  2   3 , Irene Cantero  4 , Jose I Riezu-Boj  5   6 , Fermín I Milagro  7   8   9 , J Ignacio Monreal  10   11 , Mariana Elorz  12   13 , José Ignacio Herrero  14   15   16 , Alberto Benito-Boillos  17   18 , Jorge Quiroga  19   20   21 , Ana Martinez-Echeverria  22   23 , Juan Isidro Uriz-Otano  24   25 , María Pilar Huarte-Muniesa  26   27 , Josep A Tur  28   29 , J Alfredo Martínez  30   31   32   33 , M Angeles Zulet  34   35   36


Abstract

The relevance of sleep patterns in the onset or evolution of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is still poorly understood. Our aim was to investigate the association between sleep characteristics and hepatic status indicators in obese people with NAFLD compared to normal weight non-NAFLD controls. Ninety-four overweight or obese patients with NAFLD and 40 non-NAFLD normal weight controls assessed by abdominal ultrasonography were enrolled.

Hepatic status evaluation considered liver stiffness determined by Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse elastography (ARFI) and transaminases. Additionally, anthropometric measurements, clinical characteristics, and biochemical profiles were determined.

Sleep features were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Hepatic status parameters, anthropometric measurements, and clinical and biochemical markers differed significantly in NAFLD subjects compared to controls, as well as sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance score, and sleep quality score. In the NAFLD group, a higher prevalence of short sleep duration (p = 0.005) and poor sleep quality (p = 0.041) were found. Multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for NAFLD considering sleep disturbance was 1.59 (1.11⁻2.28).

Regression models that included either sleep disturbance or sleep quality predicted up to 20.3% and 20.4% of the variability of liver stiffness, respectively, and after adjusting for potential confounders. Current findings suggest that sleep disruption may be contributing to the pathogenesis of NAFLD as well as the alteration of the liver may be affecting sleep patterns.

Consequently, sleep characteristics may be added to the list of modifiable behaviors to consider in health promotion strategies and in the prevention and management of NAFLD.

CITATION Nutrients. 2019 Feb 2;11(2):322. doi: 10.3390/nu11020322