Medications in type-2 diabetics and their association with liver fibrosis

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is significantly rising worldwide. Type-2 diabetes (T2D) is a major risk factor for NAFLD progression.

To assess the association of commonly used medications to advanced fibrosis (AF) in patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and T2D.

We used the International Classification of Disease 9^th Revision Clinical Modification coding system to identify patients with T2D and included patients who underwent liver biopsy for suspected NAFLD between January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2015. We compared demographics, clinical characteristics, and differences in pattern of medication use in patients who had biopsy-proven AF to those without it. A univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to assess the association of different classes of medication with the presence of AF.

A total of 1183 patients were included in the final analysis, out of which 32% (n = 381) had AF on liver biopsy. Mean age of entire cohort was 52 years and majority were females (65%) and Caucasians (85%). Among patients with AF, 51% were on oral hypoglycemics, 30% were on insulin, 66% were on antihypertensives and 27% were on lipid lowering agents for the median duration of 19 mo, 10 mo, 26 mo, and 24 mo respectively. Medications associated with decreased risk of AF included metformin, liraglutide, lisinopril, hydrochlorothiazide, atorvastatin and simvastatin while the use of furosemide and spironolactone were associated with higher prevalence of AF.

In our cohort of T2D with biopsy proven NAFLD, the patients who were receiving metformin, liraglutide, lisinopril, hydrochlorothiazide, atorvastatin and simvastatin were less likely to have AF on biopsy, while patients who were receiving furosemide and spironolactone had a higher likelihood of having AF when they underwent liver biopsy. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings and to establish measures for prevention of NAFLD progression in patients with T2D.