Association of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with renal stone disease detected on computed tomography

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with renal stone disease detected on computed tomography (CT). METHOD A total 1812 patients who underwent abdomen-pelvis CT in July 2015 were included in this study. The inclusion criteria for NAFLD were as follows: (i) lower average Hounsfield unit (HU) of hepatic right lobe, left medial and lateral segment when compared with that of spleen, (ii) patients who having urolithiasis in kidneys, ureters and urinary bladder, and (iii) patients underwent abdomen-pelvis CT including noncontrast image. The statistical significance of the association between NAFLD and renal stone disease was assessed using Chi Square Test. The Odds ratios and 95% CI were calculated to assess the propensity of renal stones disease for NAFLD by using Logistic Regression analysis. RESULTS The frequency of renal stone disease in patients with NAFLD was higher approximately 19% than those who having renal stone disease without NAFLD. In addition, the presence of NAFLD was linked with renal stone disease showing that detection rate of renal stone disease in patients with NAFLD was markedly high (odds ratio: 5, 95% CI, 3-8.2) (p < 0.05) in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION The presence of significant association between NAFLD with renal stone disease and NAFLD may be considered to be an independent variable as a risk factor for renal stone disease.