Young adults in South Korea with depression symptoms are more than twice as likely to be at risk for fatty liver disease compared to those without such symptoms, according to a study by researchers from Seoul St. Mary's Hospital.
The research team, including Huh Yeon (co-first author) from the Department of Family Medicine at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Oh Sang-hoon (co-first author) from the Department of Psychiatry at Eulji University Hospital, and Nam Ga-eun (corresponding author) from the Department of Family Medicine at Korea University Guro Hospital, analyzed data from 7,831 adults aged 19 to 44 who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2014 to 2022. They excluded individuals who tested positive for hepatitis B or C or who engaged in moderate to heavy drinking.
Depression symptoms were assessed using the widely used PHQ-9 screening tool, while fatty liver was defined using a fatty liver index.
The analysis revealed that the prevalence of fatty liver disease among those with depression symptoms (PHQ-9 score of 10 or higher) was 33.9%, significantly higher than the 23.8% prevalence in those without depression symptoms. Even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors, lifestyle habits, and comorbidities, individuals with depression symptoms were found to be nearly twice as likely to be at risk for fatty liver disease.
Moreover, the risk of fatty liver disease increased with the severity of depression symptoms. Compared to those with minimal depression symptoms (PHQ-9 score of 0-4), individuals with moderate depression symptoms (PHQ-9 score of 10-14) had a 1.95 times higher risk, while those with severe depression symptoms (PHQ-9 score of 15 or higher) had a 2.41 times higher risk.
The study also found a statistically significant interaction indicating that the association between depression symptoms and fatty liver disease was stronger among young adults with obesity or dyslipidemia. This suggests that the impact of depression symptoms on fatty liver disease is greater among metabolically vulnerable young individuals.
Mental stress and physical metabolic systems are closely linked. Previous research on the relationship between depression symptoms and fatty liver disease has primarily focused on middle-aged and older adults, Western populations, or specific high-risk groups. This study is significant as it represents the first analysis of the association between depression symptoms and fatty liver disease in a sample representative of young adults in South Korea.
Professor Huh emphasized the need for integrated management that includes not only mental health assessments but also evaluations of weight, blood sugar, lipid levels, and liver health for young individuals reporting depression symptoms.
Professor Nam noted that fatty liver disease in young adults could lead to an increased risk of liver disease and cardiovascular issues in the future, making it crucial to identify and manage young adults exhibiting depression symptoms early.
This research was recently published in the international journal Psychiatry Research.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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