From:  Modeling the progression of NAFLD: a multi-state Markov approach based on BMI classification in the Chinese population

 Comparison of baseline characteristics among different groups of subjects.

VariableTotal (n = 24,893)S1 (reference, n = 17,906)S2 (n = 1,139)S3 (n = 5,848)P-value
Demographic characteristics
Gender< 0.001a
    Male (n, %)12,497 (50.2)7,365 (41.1)743 (65.2)4,389 (75.1)
    Female (n, %)12,396 (49.8)10,541 (58.9)396 (34.8)1,459 (24.9)
Age, mean ± SD (years)38.16 ± 10.9337.27 ± 10.7742.41 ± 11.5640.05 ± 10.85< 0.001b
SBP, mean ± SD (mmHg)119.75 ± 14.77116.82 ± 13.79123.09 ± 14.04128.10 ± 14.45< 0.001b
DBP, mean ± SD (mmHg)74.18 ± 10.9071.98 ± 10.0676.21 ± 10.3480.50 ± 10.94< 0.001b
Abdominal obesity6,035 (24.2)1,776 (9.9)159 (14.0)4,100 (70.1)< 0.001a
WC, mean ± SD (cm)80.22 ± 13.0075.90 ± 9.1983.02 ± 5.4592.88 ± 15.38< 0.001b
Laboratory biochemical measurements
Elevated TG (n, %)5,212 (20.9)1,793 (10.0)479 (42.1)2,940 (50.3)< 0.001a
Low HDL-C (n, %)6,479 (26.0)3,546 (19.8)392 (34.4)2,541 (43.5)< 0.001a
Elevated BP (n, %)7,181 (28.8)3,685 (20.6)434 (38.1)3,062 (52.4)< 0.001a
Elevated FPG (n, %)4,071 (16.4)2,000 (11.2)320 (28.1)1,751 (29.9)< 0.001a
HUA (n, %)4,996 (20.1)2,167 (12.1)319 (28.0)2,510 (42.9)< 0.001a
ALT, mean ± SD (U/L)21.42 ± 19.6616.31 ± 12.4026.48 ± 19.1936.09 ± 28.32< 0.001b
AST, mean ± SD (U/L)19.46 ± 9.8617.84 ± 8.1620.80 ± 10.2924.18 ± 12.58< 0.001b
LDL-C, mean ± SD (mmol/L)2.83 ± 0.772.73 ± 0.743.10 ± 0.783.11 ± 0.78< 0.001b
TC, mean ± SD (mmol/L)4.72 ± 0.894.60 ± 0.865.01 ± 0.935.01 ± 0.90< 0.001b
TG, mean ± SD (mmol/L)1.31 ± 1.061.03 ± 0.651.77 ± 1.112.06 ± 1.56< 0.001b
HDL-C, mean ± SD (mmol/L)1.34 ± 0.331.42 ± 0.321.21 ± 0.261.12 ± 0.23< 0.001b
UA, mean ± SD (μmol/L)330.55 ± 94.57306.50 ± 83.50363.32 ± 86.41397.80 ± 93.62< 0.001b
Hb, mean ± SD (g/L)145.41 ± 16.40142.43 ± 16.17150.49 ± 14.78153.53 ± 14.27< 0.001b
FPG, mean ± SD (mmol/L)5.19 ± 0.815.07 ± 0.625.44 ± 1.075.50 ± 1.13< 0.001b
PLT, mean ± SD (109/L)249.76 ± 56.91247.33 ± 55.85255.02 ± 59.94256.19 ± 58.91< 0.001b

Continuous variables are expressed as mean ± SD; categorical variables as n (%). S1 (healthy state) is the reference group; S2 (NAFLD, BMI < 24 kg/m2); S3 (NAFLD, BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2. a: Chi-square test; b: Mann-Whitney U test. Units: SBP and DBP in mmHg; ALT and AST in U/L; LDL-C, TC, TG, HDL-C, FPG in mmol/L; UA in μmol/L; Hb in g/L; PLT in 109/L; WC in cm. SD: standard deviation; SBP: systolic blood pressure; DBP: diastolic blood pressure; WC: waist circumference; TG: triglycerides; HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; FPG: fasting plasma glucose; HUA: hyperuricemia; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; AST: aspartate aminotransferase; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; TC: total cholesterol; UA: uric acid; Hb: hemoglobin; PLT: platelets; NAFLD: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; BMI: body mass index.