Assessment of the Relationship Between Liver Enzymes and Cardiovascular Disease: A Study in Bangladeshi Adults
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Akibul Hasan1, Ali Newaj1, Aporajita Das Trisha1
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh.
Insights
Elevated liver enzymes like AST, ALT, and GGT are common in individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Bangladesh. These enzyme levels independently predict CVD risk, suggesting their utility in early detection.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hepatology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses a significant health burden globally.
- Elevated liver enzymes are increasingly recognized as potential indicators of systemic health issues.
- Limited research exists on the specific association between liver enzymes and myocardial infarction (MI) in South Asian populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between elevated serum liver enzymes (AST, ALT, GGT) and the prevalence of myocardial infarction (MI) in a Bangladeshi population.
- To determine if liver enzymes can serve as predictive markers for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 348 participants, divided into a CVD group (189 with MI) and a control group (159).
- Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were measured.
- Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the association between liver enzymes and CVD prevalence.
Main Results:
- A significantly higher prevalence of elevated AST, ALT, and GGT was observed in the CVD group compared to the control group (71.8% vs. 44.7%).
- Mean levels of all three liver enzymes were significantly higher in individuals with CVD.
- Serum AST, ALT, and GGT demonstrated a positive and independent association with CVD prevalence, with GGT showing the strongest link.
Conclusions:
- Liver enzyme abnormalities are highly prevalent in individuals with CVD.
- Serum levels of AST, ALT, and GGT are independently associated with CVD prevalence.
- Measuring liver enzyme levels may offer a valuable tool for early CVD risk prediction.
Objectives:
Elevated liver enzyme levels are suggested to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, few studies have explored the relationship between liver enzymes and myocardial infarction (MI). This study aimed to evaluate the potential association of elevated liver enzymes with MI within a population group in Bangladesh.
Methods:
In this cross-sectional study, 348 participants were enrolled, 189 with MI in the CVD group and 159 in the control group. Serum levels of liver enzymes (AST, ALT and GGT) and other biochemical parameters were measured using standard methods. Multivariate logistic regression models were applied to determine the associations between elevated liver enzymes and CVD.
Result:
In the CVD group, 51.6%, 30.9% and 67.7% of individuals had elevated serum AST, ALT and GGT levels, respectively. On the contrary, the control group had 17.0%, 15.1% and 35.2% of individuals with high serum AST, ALT and GGT levels, respectively. Overall, 71.8% of the subjects in the CVD group and 44.7% of the subjects in the control group had at least one or more elevated liver enzymes (p < 0.001). The mean level of all three liver enzymes was significantly higher in the CVD group than in the control group (p < 0.001). In both the CVD and control groups, males had higher levels of liver enzymes than females. In the regression models, the serum levels of AST, ALT and GGT showed a positive and independent association with the prevalence of CVD (p < 0.001). However, GGT showed the strongest association among the three enzymes.
Conclusions:
This study shows a high prevalence of liver enzyme abnormalities in individuals with CVD. Serum levels of AST, ALT and GGT were independently associated with the prevalence of CVD. This suggests that measuring liver enzyme levels could be a useful marker in predicting CVD at an early stage.
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