Association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and coronary artery disease outcomes: A systematic review and...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Hepatology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent condition with growing recognition of its systemic implications.
• Emerging evidence suggests a connection between NAFLD and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, independent of traditional risk factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically evaluate the association between NAFLD and various cardiovascular outcomes.
• To synthesize existing evidence on NAFLD's impact on angina, coronary artery disease (CAD), coronary artery calcification (CAC), myocardial infarction (MI), and calcified coronary plaques.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted, searching PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library up to January 2023.
• Included studies focused on adult populations, assessing the relationship between NAFLD and cardiovascular outcomes.
• Random-effects models were used to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for significant associations.

Main Results:

• The meta-analysis of 32 studies (5,610,990 participants) revealed significant associations between NAFLD and increased risks of angina (RR: 1.45), CAD (RR: 1.21), and coronary artery calcification (CAC >0) (RR: 1.39).
• A significant association was also observed for calcified coronary plaques (RR: 1.55).
• No significant association was found between NAFLD and CAC >100 (RR: 1.16) or myocardial infarction (MI) (RR: 1.70).

Conclusions:

• NAFLD is significantly associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, independent of established CVD risk factors.
• These findings underscore the critical need for proactive prevention, early diagnosis, and effective management strategies for NAFLD.
• Integrating NAFLD assessment into cardiovascular risk stratification may improve patient outcomes.