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Background/aims: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and neck circumference (NC) and to compare the NC predictive value with other anthropometric indices in the prediction of NAFLD and metabolic syndrome (MetS) as well as to find the NC cut-off point for the prediction of NAFLD and MetS in an Iranian population., Materials and Methods: A total of 590 individuals who fulfilled our criteria were enrolled in the study. Anthropometric measurements, physical examinations, and abdominal ultrasonography were performed by trained staff. Blood samples for biochemical tests were also obtained after fasting for 12 h., Results: Neck circumference was associated with NAFLD and MetS in both genders (p<0.0001) and remained significant even after adjustment for possible confounding factors. It was also significantly associated with other anthropometric indices, such as fatty liver severity, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and family history of diabetes in both sexes (p<0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between high-density lipoprotein levels and NC in both sexes (p<0.001)., Conclusion: Neck circumference was significantly correlated with NAFLD and MetS. In addition, it had the highest predictive value for NAFLD and MetS among other common anthropometric indices. Therefore, it can be used as a simple and feasible tool for screening NAFLD in a large population.

Introduction: Fatty liver is the most common cause of chronic liver disease, and is the second cause for liver transplantation in the United States, and seems to be the leading cause by 2025. It's high and increasing prevalence, as well as lack of symptom in most patients, highlights the importance of finding an easy, sensitive and affordable tool for screening of None-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in large population. Therefore, the aim of present study was to investigate the relationship between NAFLD and neck circumference (NC) and compare its predictive value with other anthropometric factors and also finding a NC cut-off point for predicting NAFLD in Iranian population. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study which was performed in Tehran, Iran from November 2016 to March 2017. Eligible persons were selected among patients who referred for routine checkup.Finally, 593 individuals were enrolled and anthropometric indices and blood pressure were measured. Abdominal ultrasonography and Biochemical Blood tests were also taken after12 hours of fasting. Results: The prevalence of NAFLD and MetS in our study was respectively 51.1% and 48.1%. NC was significantly associated with NAFLD, MetS, FBS, triglyceride, AST, ALT, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and other anthropometric indices in both genders (P value < 0.0001), which was remained significant even after adjusting for possible confounding factors. There was a significant negative correlation between HDL levels and NC in both sexes (P value < 0.001), but LDL level was significantly correlated with NC just in women (P value = 0.04 in women and 0.977 in men). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis shows the highest area under the curve for NC in predicting NAFLD and MetS, which was followed by waist circumference, neck to height ratio,and waist to hip ratio respectively. The best NC cutoff point for NAFLD were 39.25cm (sensitivity 79% - specificity 69%) in men and 34.85cm (sensitivity 84% - specificity 64%) in women. Conclusion: Neck circumference is an independent predictor for NAFLD and MetS which has a highest Predictive value among other anthropometric indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]