Hepatic Steatosis Index and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in China: Insights from a General Population-Based Cohort Study

PURPOSE: In the Chinese population, we looked at the relationship between the hepatic steatosis index (HSI) and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: To evaluate the association between HSI and the risk of T2DM, Cox regression models were employed. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95 percent confidence intervals (CI) were computed. A stratified analysis with interaction testing was also carried out. Additionally, we evaluated the incremental predictive value of the HSI over the established risk factors using the C-statistic, the IDI, and the NRI. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 2.97 years, 433 (1.97%) participants developed new-onset T2DM. The smoothing curve fit plot showed a positive correlation between HSI and the risk of T2DM. After adjusting for all noncollinear variables, the risk of T2DM increased by 62% for every 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in HSI. Subgroup analysis indicated that higher HSI levels were associated with a higher risk of T2DM in those aged < 40 years. The addition of HSI enhanced the reclassification and discrimination of established risk factors, with an IDI of 0.027 and an NRI of 0.348 (both P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that an elevated HSI is substantially associated with a greater risk of T2DM in the Chinese population. HSI has the potential to be an available and supplementary monitoring method for the management of T2DM risk stratification in the Chinese population.