A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Review of Neuropsychiatric Comorbidities in Children With Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

This single-center cross-sectional retrospective chart review sought to define the prevalence of neuropsychiatric (NP) disorders among children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) compared to the general population. The prevalence rate of NP disorders was determined at diagnosis among children evaluated from 2006 to 2016. The NP disorder prevalence rates were compared to those reported in the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH). 24.3% of 254 children with NAFLD reported to have at least 1 NP disorder compared to 16.9% of those in NSCH (relative risk [RR] = 1.44; <i>P</i> < .0001). More children had intellectual disability (ID) (4.5% vs 0.8%; RR = 5.43, <i>P</i> < .0001), depression (3.9% vs 2.2%; RR = 1.82, <i>P</i> = .0009), or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (3.3% vs 2.0%; RR = 1.67, <i>P</i> = .047) in the Boston Children's Hospital (BCH) NAFLD cohort. The prevalence of 1 NP disorder was 29.4% in our cohort compared to 22.3% in NSCH (RR = 1.32; <i>P</i> = .007). Children with NAFLD have a higher rate of NP disorders compared to the general population.