Changes in the etiology of chronic liver disease by referral to a FibroScan center: Increasing prevalence of the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide with a wide etiological spectrum. FibroScan(®) is used for follow-up of fibrosis and steatosis. This single-center study aims to review the distribution of indications by referral to FibroScan(®). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographic characteristics, CLD etiologies, and FibroScan(®) parameters of the patients who were referred to our tertiary care center between 2013 and 2021 were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Out of 9345 patients, 4946 (52.93%) were males, and the median age was 48 [18–88] years. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was the most common indication (N=4768, 51.02%), followed by hepatitis B (N=3194, 34.18%) and hepatitis C (N=707, 7.57%). Adjusting for age, sex, and CLD etiology, the results revealed that patients with older age (Odds ratio (OR)=2.908; confidence interval (CI)=2.597–3.256; p<0.001) and patients with hepatitis C (OR=2.582; CI=2.168–3.075; p<0.001), alcoholic liver disease (OR=2.019; CI=1.524–2.674, p<0.001), and autoimmune hepatitis (OR=2.138; CI=1.360–3.660, p<0.001) had increased odds of advanced liver fibrosis compared to NAFLD. CONCLUSION: NAFLD was the most common indication for referral to FibroScan(®).