Evaluating the adherent perinephric fat risk score in East Asian populations and its correlation with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background and aims: This study evaluated the predictive value of the APF risk score in East Asian patients undergoing open nephrectomy and its correlation with hypertension and NAFLD.

Methods and results: A retrospective study used the clinical data of 82 patients who underwent ON between January 2010 and December 2022. Per their APF score, patients were categorized into groups A (0-2 points) and B (3-4 points). Logistic regression analyses were used to compare the overall clinical data between the two groups and identify potential risk factors. Intraoperative APF prevalence was significantly higher in group B compared to group A (P < 0.001). Group B patients were older (63.06 ± 8.88 vs. 53.69 ± 15.21 years) and had higher incidences of hypertension (P < 0.001), diabetes (P = 0.002), and NAFLD (P < 0.001). Preoperative CT scans showed significant differences in posterior (P = 0.009) and lateral perinephric fat thickness (P < 0.001), and perinephric stranding (P < 0.001). Group B also had a higher proportion of malignant tumors (P = 0.039). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that NAFLD (OR = 9.053, P = 0.010) and hypertension (OR = 5.181, P = 0.025) were highly correlated with APF risk scores.

Conclusions: In this study, we found that the newly developed APF risk score had significant value in predicting APF in East Asian patients undergoing open nephrectomy. Additionally, NAFLD and hypertension were highly correlated with elevated APF risk scores.