Association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and coronary artery calcification

Both nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) are closely related to many metabolic disorders. Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) is a reliable noninvasive method in demonstrating coronary plaque. However, the association between coronary artery calcium (CAC) score and NAFLD remains controversial.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between CAC score and NAFLD.

This retrospective study enrolled 295 consecutive asymptomatic subjects who had both coronary angiography by MSCT and hepatobiliary imaging during self-paid physical check-ups.

NAFLD was found in 41% of the enrolled 295 subjects; gall bladder stones were found in 10.8%, and CAC > 100 with moderate-high risk of CAD was found in 12.9% of subjects. Male gender (odds ratios (OR), 3.087; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.092-8.729), increased age (OR, 1.108; 95% CI, 1.067-1.151), diabetes mellitus (DM) (OR, 2.968; 95% CI, 1.129-7.803), and NAFLD (OR, 2.462; 95% CI, 1.065-5.691) were the independent factors that increased the risk of CAC > 100 in binary logistic regression. The prevalence of NAFLD also increased with the severity of CAC score (400, 64.3%; P = 0.03).

Besides the traditional risk factors, such as male gender, increased age, and DM, NAFLD was also associated with moderate to high risk of CAD (CAC > 100).