【Objective】 To assess the effects of cardiovascular risk factors (CRF) as well as their interaction and clustering pattern on the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). 【Methods】 A cluster sampling survey was implemented in the population aged between 35 and 74 years old

who were from 12 organizations and underwent health examination in Guangdong General Hospital. Questionnaire

anthropometric

blood biochemistry and hepatic ultrasonographic measurements were conducted. Then all the diagnosed NAFLD patients were recruited as cases

with occupation- and sex- and age-matched non-NAFLD subjects as controls. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the associations of CRF and their clustering pattern with NAFLD

and the interaction analysis was assessed by means of an additive effect model. 【Results】 A total of 1191 subjects

with 353 NAFLD patients and 838 non-NAFLD subjects were analyzed. After adjustment for the demographic factors

positive relations were observed between NAFLD and obesity

hyperglycemia

dyslipidemia

elevated blood pressure

abnormal alanine aminotransferase level

hyperuricemia and total cholesterol level

respectively; while regular exercise was negatively associated with NAFLD. Significant positive interaction relationship was found between body mass index (BMI) and fasting glucose

with its relative excess risk due to interaction

attributable proportion due to interaction and synergy index (95% CI) were 7.562 (1.496~13.628)

0.636 (0.434 ~ 0.839) and 3.278 (1.720 ~ 6.248). Compared with subjects without any CRF

the odds ratios (95% CI) for NAFLD in those with 1 to 5 CRF were 2.04 (1.17-3.54)

6.18 (3.62-10.55)

10.45 (5.95-18.35)

28.94 (13.97-59.98) and 33.68 (11.47-98.92)

respectively

which showed a dose-response relationship. 【Conclusion】 CRF were closely associated with NAFLD

and the clustering of CRF could increase the risk for NAFLD. There might be positive interaction between BMI and fasting plasma glucose on the effect of NAFLD.