Long-term follow-up of web-based and group-based behavioural intervention in NAFLD in a real world clinical setting

The long-term results of web-based behavioural intervention in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have not been described in patients followed in specialised centres.

To analyse the long-term effectiveness of web education compared with the results achieved by a group-based behavioural intervention in the same years 2012-2014.

We followed 679 patients with NAFLD (web-based, n = 290; group-based, n = 389) for 5 years. Weight loss ≥10% was the primary outcome; secondary outcomes were attrition, changes in liver enzymes and in biomarkers of steatosis (Fatty liver Index) and fibrosis (Fibrosis-4 index).

The cohorts differed in age, education, working status and presence of diabetes. Attrition was higher in the web-based cohort (hazard ratio: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.24-1.88), but not different after adjustment for confounders. Among patients in active follow-up, 50% lost ≥5% of initial body weight and 19% lost ≥10%, without difference between cohorts. Alanine aminotransferase levels fell to within the normal range in 51% and 45% of web- and group-based cohorts, respectively. Fatty Liver Index declined progressively and, by year 5, it ruled out steatosis in 4.8%, whereas 24.9% were in the indeterminate range. Fibrosis-4 index increased in both cohorts, driven by age, but the prevalence of cases ruling-in advanced fibrosis remained very low (around 1%). Improvements in the class of both surrogate biomarkers were associated with ≥5% weight loss.

Although burdened by attrition, web-based behavioural intervention is feasible and effective in NAFLD, expanding the cohort involved in behavioural programs and reducing the risk of progressive disease.