Association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and stroke: a cross-sectional study

Emerging evidence suggests a potential association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and stroke risk, but data from US outpatient populations remain inconclusive. This study aimed to evaluate this association in a nationally representative adult cohort.

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles 1999-2020. NAFLD was defined by the United States Fatty Liver Index (≥30). Stroke history was self-reported. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic factors, metabolic syndrome, and survey weights. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess robustness.

Among 13 422 participants (mean age 47.141 years; 50.948% female), 40.426% had NAFLD. Stroke prevalence was significantly higher in the NAFLD group (4.087 vs. 2.215%, P < 0.001). NAFLD was independently associated with stroke in unadjusted (OR 1.804, 95% CI 1.508-2.157, P < 0.001) and demographically adjusted models (OR 1.420, 95% CI 1.171-1.721, P < 0.001). In Model 3, after adjusting for metabolic syndrome, the association was not statistically significant (OR 1.193, 95% CI 0.958-1.485, P = 0.116). In the subgroup analysis, the association between the two diseases was significant in participants aged 50-65 years (OR 1.654, 95% CI 1.044-2.622) and those without hypertension (OR 2.077, 95% CI 1.211-3.328). The connection remained significant in models applying inverse probability weighting (OR 1.611, 95% CI 1.400-1.853, P < 0.001) and continued to exist after non-Hispanic Black participants were excluded (OR 1.290, 95% CI 1.006-1.656, P = 0.045).

This study reveals a significant association between NAFLD and stroke, especially in adults aged 50-65 and those without hypertension. These findings suggest that NAFLD is associated with vascular risk; further prospective research is needed to determine whether it should be incorporated into cardiovascular risk assessments. Longitudinal research is needed to confirm whether treating NAFLD reduces stroke incidence.