Table 1 Baseline characteristics according to fatty liver index

(n = 813,691) 40.5%

(n = 678,049) 33.8%

(n = 516,035) 25.7%

Age, years

59.2 ± 12.9

58.8 ± 11.7

54.2 ± 12.1

 < 0.001

  < 40

55,977 (6.9)

35,861 (5.3)

59,187 (11.5)

 < 0.001

 40–64

458,800 (56.4)

416,227 (61.4)

347,340 (67.3)

  ≥ 65

298,914 (36.7)

225,961 (33.3)

109,508 (21.2)

Sex

 < 0.001

 Male

373,049 (45.9)

400,478 (59.1)

372,398 (72.2)

 Female

440,642 (54.2)

277,571 (40.9)

143,637 (27.8)

Smoking

 < .0001

 Non

553,647 (68.0)

391,127 (57.7)

236,309 (45.8)

 Former

115,671 (14.2)

128,594 (19.0)

108,157 (21.0)

 Current

144,373 (17.7)

158,328 (23.4)

171,569 (33.3)

Alcohol drinking

 < 0.001

 Non

581,309 (71.4)

419,766 (61.9)

245,960 (47.7)

 Mild to moderate

232,382 (28.6)

258,283 (38.1)

270,075 (52.3)

Regular physical activity

179,016 (22.0)

139,140 (20.5)

91,562 (17.7)

 < 0.001

Low income level^a

177,620 (21.8)

141,907 (20.9)

107,943 (20.9)

 < 0.001

Comorbidity

 Hypertension

398,785 (49.0)

404,652(59.7)

328,008 (63.6)

 < 0.001

 Dyslipidemia

296,241 (36.4)

298,919(44.1)

252,320 (48.9)

 < 0.001

CCI score

2.4 ± 2.1

2.3 ± 2.1

2.0 ± 2.0

 < 0.001

DM complication

 Retinopathy

96,632 (11.9)

61,667 (9.1)

30,486 (5.9)

< 0.001

 ESRD

3,010 (0.4)

1,375 (0.2)

639 (0.1)

< 0.001

 Stroke

4,946 (0.6)

4048 (0.6)

2,260 (0.4)

< 0.001

 Ischemic heart disease

98,760 (12.1)

88,888 (13.1)

57,305 (11.1)

< 0.001

DM duration

< 0.001

 New-onset

278,555 (34.3)

240,331 (35.4)

231,933 (45.0)

  < 5 years

236,684 (29.1)

223,672 (33.0)

170,182 (33.0)

  ≥ 5 years

298,052 (36.6)

214,046 (31.6)

113,920 (22.1)

Number of OHA use

< 0.001

 0

309,275 (38.0)

259,072 (38.2)

242,942 (47.1)

 1

375,712 (46.2)

319,144 (47.1)

209,595(40.6)

  ≥ 2

128,704 (15.8)

99,833 (14.7)

63,498 (12.3)

Use of insulin

81,394 (10.0)

54,840 (8.1)

32,534 (6.3)

< 0.001

Body mass index, kg/m²

22.7 ± 2.3

25.5 ± 2.3

28.2 ± 3.3

 < 0.001

Waist circumference, cm

78.9 ± 6.4

86.6 ± 5.7

93.3 ± 7.4

 < 0.001

Systolic BP, mmHg

126.0 ± 15.8

129.8 ± 15.5

132.3 ± 15.6

 < 0.001

Diastolic BP, mmHg

76.5 ± 9.9

79.3 ± 9.9

82.0 ± 10.3

 < 0.001

Fasting glucose, mg/dL

140.3 ± 46.5

144.4 ± 46.0

151.7 ± 48.1

 < 0.001

Total cholesterol, mg/dL

188.4 ± 39.8

198.7 ± 41.6

209.3 ± 45.0

 < 0.001

HDL-C, mg/dL

54.4 ± 21.6

50.5 ± 22.1

49.4 ± 27.6

 < 0.001

TG, mg/dL^b 

101.0 (100.9–101.1)

156.4 (156.3–156.6)

230.4 (230.0–230.7)

 < 0.001

eGFR, mL/min/1.73m²

84.7 ± 35.4

83.5 ± 34.6

85.3 ± 37.9

 < 0.001

AST, IU/L ^b

21.9 (21.9–21.9)

25.0 (25.0–25.0)

31.7 (31.6–31.7)

 < 0.001

ALT, IU/L^b

19.5 (19.5–19.5)

26.1 (26.1–26.1)

37.1 (37.1–37.2)

 < 0.001

GGT, IU/L^b

21.0 (20.9–21.0)

35.4 (35.4–35.55)

65.9 (65.8–66.0)

 < 0.001