Liver fibrosis score predicts mortality in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction

NASH triggers cardiometabolic HFpEF in aging mice

Both heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) develop due to metabolic dysregulation, has similar risk factors (e.g., insulin resistance, systemic inflammation) and are unresolved clinical challenges. Therefore, the potential link between the two disease is important to study. We aimed to evaluate whether NASH is an independent factor of cardiac dysfunction and to investigate the age dependent effects of NASH on cardiac function. C57Bl/6 J middle aged (10 months old) and aged mice (24 months old) were fed either control or choline deficient (CDAA) diet for 8 weeks. Before termination, echocardiography was performed. Upon termination, organ samples were isolated for histological and molecular analysis. CDAA diet led to the development of NASH in both age groups, without inducing weight gain, allowing to study the direct effect of NASH on cardiac function. Mice with NASH developed hepatomegaly, fibrosis, and inflammation. Aged animals had increased heart weight. Conventional echocardiography revealed normal systolic function in all cohorts, while increased left ventricular volumes in aged mice. Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography showed subtle systolic and diastolic deterioration in aged mice with NASH. Histologic analyses of cardiac samples showed increased cross-sectional area, pronounced fibrosis and Col1a1 gene expression, and elevated intracardiac CD68+ macrophage count with increased Il1b expression. Conventional echocardiography failed to reveal subtle change in myocardial function; however, 2D speckle tracking echocardiography was able to identify diastolic deterioration. NASH had greater impact on aged animals resulting in cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and inflammation.

Reduced Fetuin-A Levels Are Associated With Exercise Intolerance and Predict the Risk of Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure: The Role of Cardiac-Hepatic-Peripheral Interaction

BACKGROUND

Exercise intolerance in heart failure arises from multifactorial pathophysiological mechanisms. Hepatokines, liver-synthesized molecules, regulate systemic metabolisms in peripheral tissues. We previously identified the hepatokine fetuin-A as being linked to liver hypoperfusion in heart failure. Here, we investigated the role of fetuin-A in connecting cardiac-hepatic-peripheral interaction.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We conducted a prospective study involving 202 consecutive hospitalized patients (mean age, 56.8 years; 76.2% men) with heart failure who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing. We measured the serum concentration of fetuin-A by ELISA. Correlation analysis revealed a negative association between fetuin-A levels and the ratio of minimum minute ventilation to carbon dioxide production, its slope, and a tendency toward a positive correlation with peak oxygen uptake. Patients with impaired exercise tolerance exhibited lower fetuin-A levels. During a median follow-up of 1045 days, 18.3% experienced cardiac events, including 4 cardiac deaths and 33 cases of worsening heart failure. Classification and regression tree analysis identified a high-risk subgroup with lower fetuin-A (<24.3 mg/L) and impaired exercise tolerance (peak oxygen uptake<14.2 mL/kg per min). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that this subgroup had the highest risk of cardiac events. In a multivariable Cox proportional hazard model, the combination of lower fetuin-A and exercise intolerance was independently associated with increased risks of cardiac events.

CONCLUSIONS

Reduced circulating fetuin-A levels were associated with exercise intolerance in heart failure patients. Fetuin-A could emerge as a target implicated in exercise capacity connecting cardiac-hepatic-peripheral interaction and as a valuable biomarker for predicting prognosis when combined with peak oxygen uptake.

Association of disproportionate liver fat with markers of heart failure: The multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND

Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has been linked to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We sought to understand association between individuals with amounts of liver adiposity greater than would be predicted by their body mass index (BMI) in order to understand whether this disproportionate liver fat (DLF) represents a proxy of metabolic risk shared between liver and heart disease.

METHODS

We studied 2,932 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) who received computed tomography (CT) measurements of hepatic attenuation. Quartiles of DLF were compared and multivariable linear regression was performed to evaluate the association of DLF with clinical, echocardiographic, and quality of life metrics.

RESULTS

Compared to the lowest quartile of DLF, individuals in the highest quartile of DLF were more likely to be male (52.0% vs 47.1%, P < .001), less likely to be Black or African American (14.8 % vs 38.1% P < .001), have higher rates of dysglycemia (31.9% vs 16.6%, P < .001) and triglycerides (140 [98.0, 199.0] vs 99.0 [72.0, 144.0] mg/dL, P > .001). These individuals had lower global longitudinal strain (-0.13 [-0.25, -0.02], P = .02), stroke volumes (-1.05 [-1.76, -0.33], P < .01), lateral e' velocity (-0.10 [-0.18, -0.02], P = .02), and 6-minute walk distances (-4.25 [-7.62 to -0.88], P = .01).

CONCLUSION

DLF is associated with abnormal metabolic profiles and ventricular functional changes known to be associated with HFpEF and may serve as an early metric to assess for those that may progress to clinical HFpEF.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease as a Potential Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Cohort Study

Methods and Results

In this prospective cohort study, 1197 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) were divided into two groups (360 patients with NAFLD and 847 without NAFLD) and were followed for a median of 5 years for the incidence of CVD. Cox regression analysis was used to assess the association between NAFLD, liver enzyme level, aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), and the incidence risk of CVD and its subgroups (i.e., myocardial infarction, chronic heart disease, coronary artery bypass grafting, and percutaneous coronary intervention). There was a significant positive association between CVD incidence and NAFLD (HR = 1.488, 95% CI = 1.041-2.124, p value = 0.029). Although patients with NAFLD had higher levels of ALT and AST levels (p value = <0.001), there was no significant association between liver enzymes and the incidence risk of CVD when adjusted for different variables. Furthermore, NAFLD was associated with NAFLD APRI Q (2), APRI Q (3), and APRIQ (4) (1.365 (1.046-1.781), 1.623 (1.234-2.135), and 3.373 (2.509-4.536)), respectively.

Conclusion

NAFLD increased the incidence risk of CVD in T2D. However, there was no association between liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALK-P, and GGT) and a higher incidence risk of CVD in T2D when adjusted for confounding variables.

Association between elevated fibrosis-4 index of liver fibrosis and risk of hemorrhagic stroke

BACKGROUND

Cirrhosis is associated with an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Liver fibrosis, typically a silent condition, is antecedent to cirrhosis. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that elevated Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index, indicating a high probability of liver fibrosis, is associated with an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

METHODS

We performed a cohort analysis of the prospective United Kingdom Biobank cohort study. Participants 40-69 years old were enrolled between 2007 and 2010 and had available follow-up data until March 1, 2018. We excluded participants with prevalent hemorrhagic stroke or thrombocytopenia. High probability of liver fibrosis was defined as having a value >2.67 of the validated FIB-4 index. The primary outcome was hemorrhagic stroke (intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage), defined based on hospitalization and death registry data. Secondary outcomes were intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage, separately. We used Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate the association of FIB-4 index >2.67 with hemorrhagic stroke while adjusting for potential confounders including hypertension, alcohol use, and antithrombotic use.

RESULTS

Among 452,994 participants (mean age, 57 years; 54% women), approximately 2% had FIB-4 index >2.67, and 1241 developed hemorrhagic stroke. In adjusted models, FIB-4 index >2.67 was associated with an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke (HR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.6-2.6). Results were similar for intracerebral hemorrhage (HR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.5-2.7) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (HR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.5-3.5) individually.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated FIB-4 index was associated with an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

HFpEF as systemic disease, insight from a diagnostic prediction model reminiscent of systemic inflammation and organ interaction in HFpEF patients

Systemic inflammation and reciprocal organ interactions are associated with the pathophysiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, the clinical value, especially the diagnositc prediction power of inflammation and extra-cardiac organ dysfunction for HfpEF is not explored. In this cross-sectional study, 1808 hospitalized patients from January 2014 to June 2022 in ChiHFpEF cohort were totally enrolled according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. A diagnostic model with markers from routine blood test as well as liver and renal dysfunction for HFpEF was developed using data from ChiHFpEF-cohort by logistic regression and assessed by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and Brier score. Then, the model was validated by the tenfold cross-validation and presented as nomogram and a web-based online risk calculator as well. Multivariate and LASSO regression analysis revealed that age, hemoglobin, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, AST/ALT ratio, creatinine, uric acid, atrial fibrillation, and pulmonary hypertension were associated with HFpEF. The predictive model exhibited reasonably accurate discrimination (ROC, 0.753, 95% CI 0.732-0.772) and calibration (Brier score was 0.200). Subsequent internal validation showed good discrimination and calibration (AUC = 0.750, Brier score was 0.202). In additoin to participating in pathophysiology of HFpEF, inflammation and multi-organ interactions have diagnostic prediction value for HFpEF. Screening and optimizing biomarkers of inflammation and multi-organ interactions stand for a new field to improve noninvasive diagnostic tool for HFpEF.

Liver stiffness as a cornerstone in heart disease risk assessment

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) typically presents with hepatic fibrosis in advanced disease, resulting in increased liver stiffness. A subset of patients further develops liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Cardiovascular disease is a common comorbidity in patients with MASLD and its prevalence is increasing in parallel. Recent evidence suggests that especially liver stiffness, whether or not existing against a background of MASLD, is associated with heart diseases. We conducted a narrative review on the role of liver stiffness in the prediction of highly prevalent heart diseases including heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias (in particular atrial fibrillation), coronary heart disease, and aortic valve sclerosis. Research papers were retrieved from major scientific databases (PubMed, Web of Science) until September 2023 using 'liver stiffness' and 'liver fibrosis' as keywords along with the latter cardiac conditions. Increased liver stiffness, determined by vibration-controlled transient elastography or hepatic fibrosis as predicted by biomarker panels, are associated with a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and coronary heart disease. Elevated liver stiffness in patients with metabolic liver disease should lead to considerations of cardiac workup including N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide/B-type natriuretic peptide determination, electrocardiography, and coronary computed tomography angiography. In addition, patients with MASLD would benefit from heart disease case-finding strategies in which liver stiffness measurements can play a key role. In conclusion, increased liver stiffness should be a trigger to consider a cardiac workup in metabolically compromised patients.

The liver-heart axis in patients with severe obesity: The association between liver fibrosis and chronic myocardial injury may be explained by shared risk factors of cardiovascular disease

BACKGROUND

Severe obesity is associated with increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that liver fibrosis as quantified by the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) test would be predictive of myocardial injury and fibrosis, expressed by higher concentrations of cardiac troponin T and I measured by high-sensitivity assays (hs-cTnT and hs-cTnI, respectively).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We performed cross-sectional analyses of baseline data from 136 patients (mean age 45 years, 38 % male) with severe obesity participating in the non-randomized clinical trial Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in Morbidly Obese Patients (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00626964). Associations between ELF scores, hs-cTnT, and hs-cTnI concentrations were assessed using linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

ELF scores were associated with hs-cTnT in the unadjusted model (B 0.381, 95 % Confidence Interval [CI] 0.247, 0.514), but the association was attenuated upon adjustment for potential confounders (B -0.031, 95 % CI -0.155, 0.093). Similarly, for hs-cTnI, an observed association with ELF scores in the unadjusted model was attenuated upon adjustment for potential confounders ((B 0.432, 95 % CI 0.179, 0.685) and (B 0.069, 95 % CI -0.230, 0.367), respectively). Age, sex, hypertension, and estimated glomerular filtration rate were amongst the shared predictors of ELF score, hs-cTnT, and hs-cTnI that provided the univariable models with the highest R-squared and lowest Akaike Information Criterion values.

CONCLUSIONS

Contrary to our hypothesis, ELF score did not predict myocardial injury and fibrosis, but we rather demonstrated an association between liver fibrosis and myocardial injury and fibrosis may be explained by shared risk factors of cardiovascular disease.

Direct Bilirubin, but not Indirect Bilirubin, is Associated with Short-term Adverse Events in HFpEF

OBJECTIVE

Abnormal live function tests have been identified as independent risk factors for ominous prognosis in patients with heart failure. However, most of the previous studies have failed to determine the contribution of direct bilirubin (DBIL) and indirect bilirubin (IBIL) separately. Hence, we aimed to explore whether DBIL or IBIL is correlated with the prognosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

METHODS

A total of 19837 patients were hospitalized for HFpEF between January 2012 and January 2022 in Fuqing City Hospital affiliated with Fujian Medical University. The primary endpoint was in-hospital all-cause mortality. Secondary endpoints included in-hospital cardiovascular mortality and 30-day re-admission for heart failure.

RESULTS

Univariable analysis indicated that patients with elevated DBIL or IBIL were exposed to a higher risk of mortality and re-admission. However, in multivariable models, both ln-transformed DBIL and TBIL, but not IBIL, were independent risk factors for in-hospital all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR)=1.796, 95% confidential interval (CI)=1.477-2.183, P<0.001; HR=1.854, 95% CI=1.461-2.352, P.0.001; HR=1.161, 95% CI=0.959-1.407, P=0.126) and in-hospital cardiovascular mortality (HR=1.831, 95% CI=1.345-2.492, P.0.001; HR=1.899, 95% CI=1.300-2.773, P=0.001; HR=1.145, 95% CI=0.841-1.561, P=0.389). Only DBIL remained independently associated with 30-day readmission for heart failure (HR=1.361, 95% CI=1.036-1.787, P=0.027). Adding ln-transformed DBIL to model 1 increased its discriminatory capacity (C-statistic: 0.851 to 0.869, respectively), whereas adding ln-transformed IBIL yielded little increment (C-statistic: 0.851 to 0.852, respectively).

CONCLUSION

DBIL, but not IBIL, was associated with short-term ominous prognosis in patients with HFpEF. Hence, DBIL may be the superior predictor for prognosis in HFpEF.

Association of liver fibrosis with cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease

BACKGROUND

Cognitive decline is a common but variable non-motor manifestation of Parkinson's disease. Chronic liver disease contributes to dementia, but its impact on cognitive performance in Parkinson's disease is unknown. We assessed the effect of liver fibrosis on cognition in Parkinson's disease.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative. Our exposure was liver fibrosis at baseline, based on the validated Fibrosis-4 score. Our primary outcome was the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and additional outcome measures were the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, the Benton Judgement of Line Orientation, the Letter-Number Sequencing Test, and the Modified Semantic Fluency Test. We used linear regression models to assess the relationship between liver fibrosis and scores on cognitive assessments at baseline and linear mixed models to evaluate the association between baseline Fibrosis-4 score with changes in each cognitive test over five years. Models were adjusted for demographics, comorbidities, and alcohol use.

RESULTS

We included 409 participants (mean age 61, 40 % women). There was no significant association between liver fibrosis and baseline performance on any of the cognitive assessments in adjusted models. However, over the subsequent five year period, liver fibrosis was associated with more rapid decline in scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (interaction coefficient, -0.07; 95 % CI, -0.12, -0.02), the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, the Benton Judgement of Line Orientation, and the Modified Semantic Fluency Test.

CONCLUSION

In people with Parkinson's disease, the presence of comorbid liver fibrosis was associated with more rapid decline across multiple cognitive domains.

The Association Between Non-Clinically Apparent Liver Fibrosis and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Hispanic Patients

Background

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a deadly cardiopulmonary disease with multi-organ involvement including impaired liver function. Liver dysfunction in PAH is poorly understood but significantly associated with morbidity and mortality. Hispanics have a significantly higher prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and evidence of more advanced disease in comparison to other ethnic groups. The clinical impact of NAFLD in Hispanic PAH patients is unknown. We aimed to investigate the impact of a validated scoring system, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS), to predict the degree of liver fibrosis in a Hispanic PAH population and its relationship to hemodynamics, functional class, and outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective review of all treatment-naive Hispanic patients with group I World Health Organization (WHO) pulmonary hypertension (PH) at a single academic center between February 2016 and March 2021 was performed. Patients with history of substance or alcohol abuse, non-group I WHO PH, pre-existent liver disease, chronic kidney disease, atrial fibrillation, thyroid disease, and warfarin use were excluded from the study. The diagnosis of group I WHO PH was determined by cardiac catheterization after the exclusion of other etiologies. NFS was calculated for each patient and correlated with functional capacity, hemodynamics, N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and survival.

Results

A total of 96 Hispanic patients were included in our study. The median age of patients in our cohort was 49 years (interquartile range: 15) and 69% of our cohort were females. Higher NFSs indicating advanced hepatic fibrosis (F3-F4) were found to correlate with elevated right-sided cardiac filling pressures (r = 0.27, P = 0.03), elevated levels of NT-proBNP (r = 0.32, P = 0.01), lower 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) (r = -0.49, P = 0.001), lower functional capacity (World Health Organization functional class, WHO-FC, r = -0.35, P = 0.051), a higher prevalence of diabetes (21.1% versus 51.9%, P = 0.001), a higher prevalence of risk factors for metabolic syndrome (81.5% versus 65.0%, P = 0.035), and worse 5-year survival rates.

Conclusion

In Hispanic patients with PAH, NFSs correlate with the degree of right-sided pressure overload. In addition, advanced NFSs were independently associated with lower 5-year survival rates and added prognostic information to other established risk parameters in PAH. This study suggests that screening for liver disease in this vulnerable patient population can aid in earlier detection leading to discussion of lifestyle modifications and possible escalation of PAH-targeted therapies, thus leading to potential improvement in survival rates.

Predictors and Outcomes of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Nationwide Inpatient Sample Analysis

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), contributing to around 25% of deaths observed in pivotal HFpEF trials. However, predictors and outcomes of in-hospital SCA in HFpEF have not been well characterized. We queried the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2016 to 2017) to identify adult hospitalizations with a diagnosis of HFpEF. Patients with acute or chronic conditions associated with SCA (e.g., acute myocardial infarction, acute pulmonary embolism, sarcoidosis) were excluded. We ascertained whether SCA occurred during these hospitalizations, identified predictors of SCA using multivariate logistic regression, and determined outcomes of SCA in HFpEF. Of 2,909,134 hospitalizations, SCA occurred in 1.48% (43,105). The mean age of the SCA group was 72.3 ± 12.4 years, 55.8% were women, and 66.4% were White. Presence of third-degree atrioventricular block (odds ratio [OR] 5.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.31 to 6.67), left bundle branch block (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.72 to 2.25), and liver disease (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.73 to 2.02) were the leading predictors of SCA in HFpEF. After excluding patients with do-not-resuscitate status, the SCA group versus those without SCA had higher mortality (25.9% vs 1.6%), major bleeding complications (4.1% vs 1.7%), increased use of percutaneous coronary intervention (2.5% vs 0.7%), and mechanical circulatory assist device (1.2% vs 0.1%). These observational inpatient data suggest identifiable risk factors for SCA in HFpEF including cardiac arrhythmias. Further research is warranted to identify the best tools to risk-stratify patients with HFpEF to implement targeted SCA prevention strategies.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Echocardiographic Parameters of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The cardiovascular implications of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have been associated with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The purpose of this review was to conduct a bibliographic search regarding the correlation between NAFLD and the echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular diastolic function. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and Embase for original research data reporting on the association of NAFLD with diastolic function markers [E/e', left atrial volume index (LAVi), left ventricular mass index (LVMi)]. Meta-analysis was performed using the meta and dmetar packages in R studio v.1.4.1106, with p < 0.05 values being considered significant. Results are expressed as the standardized mean difference (SMD) for continuous variables and as the odds ratio (OR) for categorical variables, with respective 95% confidence intervals (CI). Heterogeneity between studies was expressed with index Ι2. From the preliminary search, 2619 articles were found from which 31 studies were included in the final statistical analysis. The meta-analysis of 8 studies which reported on the prevalence of diastolic dysfunction showed that it was increased in patients with NAFLD (OR: 2.07, 95% CI 1.24-3.44 with p = 0.01, I2: 80% with p < 0.01). The meta-analysis of 21 studies showed significantly higher E/e' in NAFLD patients (SMD 1.02, 95% CI 0.43-1.61 with p < 0.001, I2: 97% with p < 0.001). Individuals with NAFLD had increased LAVi (SMD: 0.87, 95% CI 0.38-1.37 with p < 0.001, I2: 96% with p < 0.001) and LVMi (SMD: 0.89, 95% CI 0.31-1.48 with p = 0.003, I2: 100% with p < 0.001). To conclude, in the meta-analysis of 31 observational studies, NAFLD patients were found to have affected left ventricular diastolic function, supporting the hypothesis of NAFLD being associated with HFpEF.

Advance directive screening among veterans with incident heart failure: Comparisons among people aging with and without HIV

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) is common among people aging with HIV (PWH) and without HIV (PWoH). Despite the poor prognosis for HF, advance directives (AD) completion is low but has not been compared among PWH and PWoH.

OBJECTIVES

Determine the prevalence and predictors of AD screening among PWH and PWoH with incident HF.

METHODS

We included Veterans with an incident HF diagnosis code from 2013-2018 in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) without prior AD screening. Health records were reviewed for AD screening note titles within -30 days to 1-year post-HF diagnosis. Analyses were stratified by HIV status. Trends in annual AD screening were evaluated with the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test. The associations of AD screening with demographics, disease severity (Charlson Comorbidity Index, VACS 2.0 Index), and healthcare encounters (cardiology, palliative care, hospitalization) were evaluated with Cox proportional hazards regression.

RESULTS

HF was diagnosed in 4516 Veterans (28.2% PWH, 71.8% PWoH). Annual AD screening rates increased in both groups (Ptrend<0.0001) and aggregate rates were higher among PWH than PWoH (53.5% vs. 48.2%, p=.001). In both groups, the likelihood of AD screening increased with greater disease severity, palliative care contact, and hospitalization (HR range=1.04-3.32, all p≤.02) but not with cardiology contact (p≥.53).

CONCLUSIONS

AD screening rates after incident HF remain suboptimal but increased over time and were higher in PWH. Future quality improvement and implementation efforts should aim for universal AD screening with incident HF diagnosis, initiated by providers skilled in discussing AD, including in the cardiology subspecialty setting.

Prognostic implication of liver fibrosis scores in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy

Aims

Liver fibrosis was associated with adverse outcomes in various cardiovascular diseases. The current risk stratification of non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM) still largely depends on the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). At present, the relationship between liver fibrosis and prognosis in patients with NIDCM remains blank.

Methods and results

A total of 433 NIDCM patients were analysed in this study. Liver fibrosis was assessed by three liver fibrosis scores (LFS), including aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio (AST/ALT ratio), and gamma-glutamyltransferase to platelet ratio (GPR). The primary endpoint was defined as all-cause mortality or heart transplantation (ACM/HTx). During a median follow-up period of 1.7 years, 140 ACM/HTx events occurred. Positive associations were observed between LFS and ACM/HTx. Patients with elevated APRI, AST/ALT ratio, and GPR scores exhibited increased ACM/HTx (all P < 0.05). Intermediate-to-high APRI [hazard ratio (HR) 1.66, 95%CI 1.06-2.61, P = 0.027], AST/ALT ratio (HR 1.59, 95%CI 1.07-2.36, P = 0.021), and GPR (HR 1.64, 95%CI 1.11-2.42, P = 0.013) were independently associated with increased risk of ACM/HTx, even after adjusting for LVEF and other covariates. The positive relationship remains consistent across different subgroups, including those with diabetes and obesity.

Conclusions

Elevated liver fibrosis scores were associated with a worse outcome beyond LVEF in patients with NIDCM, which may provide additional prognostic value in the management of NIDCM.

Correlation analysis of the abdominal visceral fat area with the structure and function of the heart and liver in obesity: a prospective magnetic resonance imaging study

BACKGROUND

The differences in fat deposition sites exhibit varying degrees of systemic inflammatory responses and organ damage, especially in obese individuals with excessive visceral fat. Visceral fat, which is closely related to an increase in mortality rates related to heart and liver diseases. However, few studies have analysed the differences in heart and liver indicators and their correlation among groups based on the abdominal visceral fat area (AVFA).

OBJECTIVE

Clarifying the differences in and correlations of heart and liver indicators among groups with different severities of AVFA by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHODS

Sixty-nine subjects with obesity were enrolled. The study group consisted of forty-one individuals (AVFA ≥ 150 cm2), and the control group consisted of twenty-eight individuals (100 cm2 ≤ AVFA < 150 cm2). The differences in and correlations between clinical, laboratory, and MRI indicators of the heart and liver between the two groups were analysed.

RESULTS

In the study group, the incidences of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin resistance were higher, and liver function indicators were worse. The left ventricular eccentricity ratio (LVER), left ventricular mass (LVM) and global peak wall thickness (GPWT) were higher in the study group than in the control group (P = 0.002, P = 0.001, P = 0.03), and the left ventricle global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) was lower in the study group than in the control group (P = 0.016). The pericardiac adipose tissue volume (PATV) and myocardial proton density fat fraction (M-PDFF) were higher in the study group than in the control group (P = 0.001, P = 0.001). The hepatic proton density fat fraction (H-PDFF) and abdominal subcutaneous fat area (ASFA) were higher in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.001, P = 0.012). There was a moderate positive correlation (ρ = 0.39-0.59, P < 0.001) between the AVFA and LVER, LVM, GPWT, LVGLS, and H-PDFF. There was no difference in right ventricular and most left ventricular systolic and diastolic function between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

The high AVFA group had a larger LVM, GPWT and PATV, more obvious changes in LVER, impaired left ventricular diastolic function, an increased risk of heart disease, and more severe hepatic fat deposition and liver injury. Therefore, there is a correlation between the amount of visceral adipose tissue and subclinical cardiac changes and liver injury.

Mechanisms Linking Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) to Cardiovascular Disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a condition of fat accumulation in the liver that occurs in the majority of patients in combination with metabolic dysfunction in the form of overweight or obesity. In this review, we highlight the cardiovascular complications in MAFLD patients as well as some potential mechanisms linking MAFLD to the development of cardiovascular disease and highlight potential therapeutic approaches to treating cardiovascular diseases in patients with MAFLD.

RECENT FINDINGS

MAFLD is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including hypertension, atherosclerosis, cardiomyopathies, and chronic kidney disease. While clinical data have demonstrated the link between MAFLD and the increased risk of CVD development, the mechanisms responsible for this increased risk remain unknown. MAFLD can contribute to CVD through several mechanisms including its association with obesity and diabetes, increased levels of inflammation, and oxidative stress, as well as alterations in hepatic metabolites and hepatokines. Therapies to potentially treat MAFLD-induced include statins and lipid-lowering drugs, glucose-lowering agents, antihypertensive drugs, and antioxidant therapy.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease as an Emerging Risk Factor for Heart Failure

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and heart failure (HF) are two chronic diseases that have become important global public health problems. This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of the association between NAFLD and increased risk of new-onset HF, briefly discusses the putative biological mechanisms linking these two conditions, and summarizes targeted pharmacotherapies for NAFLD that might also beneficially affect cardiac complications leading to new-onset HF.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent observational cohort studies supported a significant association between NAFLD and the long-term risk of new-onset HF. Notably, this risk remained statistically significant even after adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity, adiposity measures, pre-existing type 2 diabetes and other common cardiometabolic risk factors. In addition, the risk of incident HF was further increased with more advanced liver disease, especially with higher severity of liver fibrosis. There are multiple potential pathophysiological mechanisms by which NAFLD (especially in its more advanced forms) may increase the risk of new-onset HF. Because of the strong link existing between NAFLD and HF, more careful surveillance of these patients will be needed. However, further prospective and mechanistic studies are required to better decipher the existing but complex link between NAFLD and risk of new-onset HF.

Serum Metabolites Are Associated With HFpEF in Biopsy-Proven Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) share common risk factors, including obesity and diabetes. They are also thought to be mechanistically linked. The aim of this study was to define serum metabolites associated with HFpEF in a cohort of patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD to identify common mechanisms. Methods and Results We performed a retrospective, single-center study of 89 adult patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD who had transthoracic echocardiography performed for any indication. Metabolomic analysis was performed on serum using ultrahigh performance liquid and gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. HFpEF was defined as ejection fraction >50% plus at least 1 echocardiographic feature of HFpEF (diastolic dysfunction, abnormal left atrial size) and at least 1 heart failure sign or symptom. We performed generalized linear models to evaluate associations between individual metabolites, NAFLD, and HFpEF. Thirty-seven out of 89 (41.6%) patients met criteria for HFpEF. A total of 1151 metabolites were detected; 656 were analyzed after exclusion of unnamed metabolites and those with >30% missing values. Fifty-three metabolites were associated with the presence of HFpEF with unadjusted P value <0.05; none met statistical significance after adjustment for multiple comparisons. The majority (39/53, 73.6%) were lipid metabolites, and levels were generally increased. Two cysteine metabolites (cysteine s-sulfate and s-methylcysteine) were present at significantly lower levels in patients with HFpEF. Conclusions We identified serum metabolites associated with HFpEF in patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD, with increased levels of multiple lipid metabolites. Lipid metabolism could be an important pathway linking HFpEF to NAFLD.

Comparison of liver fibrosis scores for predicting mortality and morbidity in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

AIMS

Liver fibrosis scores (LFSs) are non-invasive and effective tools for estimating cardiovascular risks. To better understand the advantages and limitations of currently available LFSs, we determined to compare the predictive values of LFSs in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) for primary composite outcome, atrial fibrillation (AF), and other clinical outcomes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This was a secondary analysis of the TOPCAT trial, and 3212 HFpEF patients were enrolled. Five LFSs, namely, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS), fibrosis-4 score (FIB-4), BARD, aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio, and Health Utilities Index (HUI) scores were adopted. Cox proportional hazard model and competing risk regression model were performed to assess the associations between LFSs and outcomes. The discriminatory power of each LFS was evaluated by calculating the area under the curves (AUCs). During a median follow-up of 3.3 years, a 1-point increase in the NFS [hazard ratio (HR) 1.10; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.17], BARD (HR 1.19; 95% CI 1.10-1.30), and HUI (HR 1.44; 95% CI 1.09-1.89) scores was associated with an increased risk of primary outcome. Patients with high levels of NFS (HR 1.63; 95% CI 1.26-2.13), BARD (HR 1.64; 95% CI 1.25-2.15), AST/ALT ratio (HR 1.30; 95% CI 1.05-1.60), and HUI (HR 1.25; 95% CI 1.02-1.53) were at an increased risk of primary outcome. Subjects who developed AF were more likely to have high NFS (HR 2.21; 95% CI 1.13-4.32). High levels of NFS and HUI scores were a significant predictor of any hospitalization and hospitalization for heart failure. The AUCs for the NFS in predicting primary outcome (0.672; 95% CI 0.642-0.702) and incident of AF (0.678; 95% CI 0.622-0.734) were higher than other LFSs.

CONCLUSIONS

In light of these findings, NFS appears to have superior predictive and prognostic utility compared with AST/ALT ratio, FIB-4, BARD, and HUI scores.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

(https://clinicaltrials.gov). Unique identifier: NCT00094302.

Clinical and prognostic implications of hyaluronic acid in hospitalized patients with heart failure

We investigated the clinical and prognostic implications of hyaluronic acid, a liver fibrosis marker, in patients with heart failure. We measured hyaluronic acid levels on admission in 655 hospitalized patients with heart failure between January 2015 and December 2019. Patients were stratified into three groups according to hyaluronic acid level: low (< 84.3 ng/mL, n = 219), middle (84.3-188.2 ng/mL, n = 218), and high (≥ 188.2 ng/mL, n = 218). The primary endpoint was all-cause death. The high hyaluronic acid group had higher N-terminal pro-brain-type natriuretic peptide levels, larger inferior vena cava, and shorter tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion than the other two groups. During the follow-up period (median 485 days), 132 all-cause deaths were observed: 27 (12.3%) in the low, 37 (17.0%) in the middle, and 68 (31.2%) in the high hyaluronic acid (P < 0.001) groups. Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed that higher log-transformed hyaluronic acid levels were significantly associated with all-cause death (hazard ratio, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-1.66; P < 0.001). No significant interaction was observed between hyaluronic acid level and reduced/preserved left ventricular ejection fraction on all-cause death (P = 0.409). Hyaluronic acid provided additional prognostic predictability to pre-existing prognostic factors, including the fibrosis-4 index (continuous net reclassification improvement, 0.232; 95% confidence interval, 0.022-0.441; P = 0.030). In hospitalized patients with heart failure, hyaluronic acid was associated with right ventricular dysfunction and congestion and was independently associated with prognosis regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction.

The Association between Advanced Liver Fibrosis and Mortality Is Modified by Dietary Quality among Korean Adults: Results from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with Mortality Data

Advanced fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with an increased risk of mortality; however, an independent association of liver fibrosis with mortality is not well defined. We aimed to investigate the association between advanced liver fibrosis and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality and the mediation effect of diet quality. We analyzed 35,531 participants with suspected NAFLD, excluding competing etiologies of chronic liver disease, from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2015, and followed up until 31 December 2019. The severity of liver fibrosis was assessed using the NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) and the fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4). The Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the association of advanced liver fibrosis with mortality. During a mean 8.1 years of follow-up, 3426 deaths occurred. Advanced liver fibrosis determined by NFS and FIB-4 was associated with increased risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality after adjusting for confounders. When NFS and FIB-4 were combined, the high NFS + high FIB-4 group was significantly associated with higher risks of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.85, 95% CI 1.42-2.43) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 2.04, 95% CI 1.23-3.39), respectively, compared with the low NFS + low FIB-4 group. However, these associations were attenuated in people with high diet quality. Advanced liver fibrosis is an independent risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in people with NAFLD, and the association between advanced liver fibrosis and mortality is modified by a high-quality diet.

Association between Cardiovascular Disease and Liver Disease, from a Clinically Pragmatic Perspective as a Cardiologist

Cardiovascular diseases and liver diseases are closely related. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has the same risk factors as those for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and may also be a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease on its own. Heart failure causes liver fibrosis, and liver fibrosis results in worsened cardiac preload and congestion. Although some previous reports regard the association between cardiovascular diseases and liver disease, the management strategy for liver disease in patients with cardiovascular diseases is not still established. This review summarized the association between cardiovascular diseases and liver disease. In patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the degree of liver fibrosis progresses with worsening cardiovascular prognosis. In patients with heart failure, liver fibrosis could be a prognostic marker. Liver stiffness assessed with shear wave elastography, the fibrosis-4 index, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score is associated with both liver fibrosis in patients with liver diseases and worse prognosis in patients with heart failure. With the current population ageing, the importance of management for cardiovascular diseases and liver disease has been increasing. However, whether management and interventions for liver disease improve the prognosis of cardiovascular diseases has not been fully understood. Future investigations are needed.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with a worse prognosis in patients with heart failure: A pool analysis

Background and aims

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with a higher risk of heart failure (HF) than those without NAFLD. However, the prognostic impact of NAFLD in HF is still controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to explore the association between NAFLD and the risk of adverse outcomes in patients with HF.

Methods

We searched multiple electronic databases (Embase, PubMed, and Google Scholar) for potentially related studies up to June 30, 2022. Cohort studies reported multivariable adjusted relative risks and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of adverse outcomes in HF patients with NAFLD comparing those without NAFLD were included for analysis.

Results

A total of six studies involving 12,374 patients with HF were included for analysis, with a median follow-up duration of 2.5 years. The pooled analysis showed that HF patients with NAFLD were associated with a significantly increased risk of major composite adverse outcomes (HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.25-2.07), all-cause mortality (HR 1.66, 95% CI 1.39-1.98), and HF hospitalization or re-hospitalization (HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.03-2.86).

Conclusion

NAFLD is associated with a worse prognosis in patients with HF. Effective screening and treatment strategies are needed to improve the prognosis in HF patients with NAFLD.

Comprehensive Review of Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a growing global phenomenon, and its damaging effects in terms of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk are becoming more apparent. NAFLD is estimated to affect around one quarter of the world population and is often comorbid with other metabolic disorders including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and metabolic syndrome. In this review, we examine the current evidence describing the many ways that NAFLD itself increases CVD risk. We also discuss the emerging and complex biochemical relationship between NAFLD and its common comorbid conditions, and how they coalesce to increase CVD risk. With NAFLD's rising prevalence and deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system, a complete understanding of the disease must be undertaken, as well as effective strategies to prevent and treat its common comorbid conditions.

Liver fibrosis scores and prognosis in patients with cardiovascular diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

In patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis was associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events. However, the relationship between liver fibrosis scores and clinical outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease remains unclear.

METHODS

Searching from PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases yielded cohort studies that reported adjusted effect size between liver fibrosis scores (Fibrosis-4 score [FIB-4] or NAFLD fibrosis score [NFS]) and prognosis in patients with cardiovascular disease. The effect size was computed using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

This meta-analysis included twelve cohort studies involving 25,252 patients with cardiovascular disease. Participants with the highest baseline level of FIB-4 or NFS had a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events (FIB-4, HR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.53-2.00, I ²  = 0%; NFS, HR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.50-2.47, I ²  = 47%). This finding was consistent with the analysis of FIB-4 or NFS as a continuous variable (per 1-unit increment FIB-4, HR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.06-1.24, I ²  = 72%; NFS, HR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.07-1.24, I ²  = 71%). Furthermore, participants with the highest levels of FIB-4 or NFS had a greater risk of cardiovascular mortality (FIB-4, HR: 2.07, 95% CI: 1.19-3.61, I ²  = 89%; NFS, HR: 3.72, 95% CI: 2.62-5.29, I ²  = 60%) and all-cause mortality (FIB-4, HR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.24-2.66, I ²  = 90%; NFS, HR: 3.49, 95% CI: 2.82-4.31, I ²  = 25%). This result was also consistent as a continuous variable.

CONCLUSION

Higher levels of FIB-4 and NFS are related to an increased risk of cardiovascular events, cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease.

NAFLD in Cardiovascular Diseases: A Contributor or Comorbidity?

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular diseases are both highly prevalent conditions around the world, and emerging data have shown an association between them. This review found several longitudinal and cross-sectional studies showing that NAFLD was associated with coronary artery disease, cardiac remodeling, aortic valve remodeling, mitral annulus valve calcifications, diabetic cardiomyopathy, diastolic cardiac dysfunction, arrhythmias, and stroke. Although the specific underlying mechanisms are not clear, many hypotheses have been suggested, including that metabolic syndrome might act as an upstream metabolic defect, leading to end-organ manifestations in both the heart and liver. Management of NAFLD includes weight loss through lifestyle interventions or bariatric surgery, and pharmacological interventions, often targeting comorbidities. Although there are no Food and Drug Administration-approved nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-specific therapies, several drug candidates have demonstrated effect in the improvement in fibrosis or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis resolution. Further studies are needed to assess the effect of those interventions on cardiovascular outcomes, the major cause of mortality in patients with NAFLD. In conclusion, a more comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and management of patients with NAFLD and cardiovascular diseases is needed to optimize clinical outcomes.

Impact of liver fibrosis score on the incidence of stroke: A cohort study

PURPOSE

The purpose was to explore the value of liver fibrosis scores (fibrosis-4, BAAT score and BARD score) for incidence risk of stroke in a cohort study.

METHODS

A total of 9088 participants without stroke history enrolled the follow-up. Three liver fibrosis scores (LFSs) including FIB-4, BARD score and BAAT score were adopted. The end point was stroke. Cox regression analysis was used to calculate hazard ratios and 95% confidence interval. Kaplan-Meier curve was used to show the probability of stoke in different levels of LFSs. Subgroup analysis showed the association between LFSs and stroke under different stratification. Restricted cubic spline could further explore whether there is a linear relationship between LFSs and stroke. Finally, we used C-statistics, Net Reclassification Index (NRI) and Integrated Discrimination Improvement (IDI) to assess the discriminatory power of each LFS for stroke.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up time of 4.66 years, 272 participants had a stroke. Through the baseline characteristics, we observed that the stroke incidence population tends to be male and older. It was shown by Kaplan-Meier that three LFSs were associated with stroke and high levels of LFSs significantly increase the probability of stroke. In the univariate Cox regression analysis, the HR of stroke risk was 6.04 (4.14-8.18) in FIB-4, 2.10 (1.45-3.04) in BAAT score and 1.81 (1.38-2.38) in BARD score by comparing the high level with the low level at each LFSs. The adjusted HRs for three LFSs were 2.05 (1.33-3.15) in FIB-4, 1.61 (1.10-2.35) in BAAT score and 1.54 (1.17-2.04) in BARD score by comparing the high group with low group. We found that multivariable-adjusted HRs of three LFSs still increased for stroke when stratified by various factors in subgroup analysis. Moreover, after adding LFSs to original risk prediction model which consist of age, sex, drinking, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides, we found that new models have higher C-statistics of stroke. Furthermore, we calculated Net Reclassification Index (NRI) and Integrated Discrimination Improvement (IDI) to show the ability of LFSs to predict stroke.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that three LFSs were associated with stroke amongst middle-aged populations in rural areas of Northeast China. Furthermore, it suggests that LFSs can be used as a risk stratification tool to predict stroke.

Endotrophin, a Collagen VI Formation-Derived Peptide, in Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Endotrophin, a collagen type VI-derived peptide, mediates metabolic dysregulation, inflammation, and fibrosis in animal models, but has not been studied in human heart failure (HF).

METHODS

We examined the association between circulating endotrophin and outcomes in participants suffering from HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) enrolled in the TOPCAT trial (n=205). Associations were validated in a participant-level meta-analysis (n=810) that included participants with HFpEF from the PHFS study (United States; n=174), PEOPLE cohort (New Zealand; n=168), a randomized trial of vasodilator therapy (United States; n=45), a cohort from Donostia University Hospital and University of Navarra (Spain; n=171), and the TRAINING-HF trial (Spain; n=47). We also assessed associations in HF with reduced ejection fraction in PHFS (n=1,642).

RESULTS

Plasma endotrophin levels at baseline were associated with risk of future death (standardized hazard ratio [HR] = 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.36-2.24; P<0.001) and death or HF-related hospital admission (DHFA; standardized HR=2.11; 95% CI= 1.67-2.67; P<0.001) in TOPCAT. Endotrophin improved reclassification and discrimination for these outcomes beyond the MAGGIC risk score and NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide). Findings were confirmed in the participant-level meta-analysis. In participants with HF with reduced ejection fraction in PHFS, endotrophin levels were associated with death (standardized HR=1.82; 95% CI=1.66-2.00; P<0.001) and DHFA (standardized HR=1.40; 95% CI=1.31-1.50; P<0.001), but the strength of the latter association was substantially lower than for the MAGGIC risk score (standardized HR=1.93; 95% CI=1.76-2.12) and BNP (standardized HR=1.78; 95% CI=1.66-1.92).

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating endotrophin levels are independently associated with future poor outcomes in patients with HF, particularly in HFpEF. (Funded by Bristol Myers Squibb; Instituto de Salud Carlos III [Spain] and European Regional Development Fund; European Commission CRUCIAL project; and the U.S. National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.).

Candidate Screening for Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Clinic by Fib-4 Index From Subclinical Subjects

Background and Aims

Recognition of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) at an early stage in mass screening is desirable, but difficult to achieve. We examined whether the fibrosis (Fib)-4 index, a simple index of liver stiffness/fibrosis, could be used as a screening tool to select candidates requiring expert diagnostics.

Methods

Individuals who participated in annual health checks between 2006 and 2007 in Arita-cho, Saga, Japan, with no history of cardiovascular disease and EF ≥ 50% were enrolled (total 710; 258 men; median age, 59 years).

Results

Participants were divided into 5 groups according to HFpEF risk: 215 (30%), 100 (14%), 171 (24%), 163 (23%), and 61 (9%) with Heart Failure Association (HFA)-PEFF scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4-6 points, respectively. The highest HFpEF risk group (HFA-PEFF score, 4-6 points) showed poor prognosis for the clinical events of all-cause mortality and hospitalization for HF (log-rank test, P = .002). The Fib-4 index was correlated with HFpEF risk stratification (rs = 0.526), and increment in the Fib-4 index was independently linked to high HFpEF risk by multiple logistic regression analysis (adjusted odds ratio, 1.311; 95% confidence interval, 1.078-1.595; P = .007). The Fib-4 index stratified clinical prognosis (log-rank test, P < .001) was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality and hospitalization for HF (hazard ratio, 1.305; 95% confidence interval, 1.139-1.495; P < .001).

Conclusion

The Fib-4 index can be used to select appropriate candidates for a detailed examination of HFpEF in a subclinical population.

Association between liver fibrosis and incident dementia in the UK Biobank study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There is growing recognition that chronic liver conditions influence brain health. The impact of liver fibrosis on dementia risk was unclear. We evaluated the association between liver fibrosis and incident dementia in a cohort study.

METHODS

We performed a cohort analysis using data from the UK Biobank study, which prospectively enrolled adults starting in 2007, and continues to follow them. People with a Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) liver fibrosis score >2.67 were categorized as at high risk of advanced fibrosis. The primary outcome was incident dementia, ascertained using a validated approach. We excluded participants with prevalent dementia at baseline. We used Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate the association between liver fibrosis and dementia while adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Among 455,226 participants included in this analysis, the mean age was 56.5 years and 54% were women. Approximately 2.17% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.13%-2.22%) had liver fibrosis. The rate of dementia per 1000 person-years was 1.76 (95% CI 1.50-2.07) in participants with liver fibrosis and 0.52 (95% CI 0.50-0.54) in those without. After adjusting for demographics, socioeconomic deprivation, educational attainment, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and tobacco and alcohol use, liver fibrosis was associated with an increased risk of dementia (hazard ratio 1.52, 95% CI 1.22-1.90). Results were robust to sensitivity analyses. Effect modification by sex, metabolic syndrome, and apolipoprotein E4 carrier status was not observed.

CONCLUSION

Liver fibrosis in middle age was associated with an increased risk of incident dementia, independent of shared risk factors. Liver fibrosis may be an underrecognized risk factor for dementia.

Liver fibrosis scores and atrial fibrillation incidence in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

AIM

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-related advanced liver fibrosis (Stage 3 or 4) was reported to be linked to worse prognosis in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This study aims to assess the relationship between liver fibrosis scores and new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) incidence in patients with HFpEF in the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) trial.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Baseline liver fibrosis levels, assessed by NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) or Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4), with AF incidence were expressed as hazard ratios (HRs) using the Cox proportional hazard model. The risk for advanced fibrosis was estimated to be 21.5% (447/2072) as assessed by FIB-4 (>3.25) and 4.2% (88/2072) as assessed by NFS (>0.676) in HFpEF patients without baseline AF. After a median follow-up of 3.11 years, 106 new-onset AF cases occurred. In multivariate analysis, elevated NFS [NFS = -1.455-0.676: HR 2.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-4.68; NFS > 0.676: HR 3.36, 95% CI 1.27-6.80; per 1 unit increase: HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01-1.32], not FIB-4 (FIB-4 = 1.45-3.25: HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.67-1.55; FIB-4 > 3.25: HR 1.69, 95% CI 0.76-3.79; per 1 unit increase: HR 1.13, 95% CI 0.93-1.37), was associated with increased AF incidence. The NFS (C-index 0.662), not FIB-4 (C-index 0.531), had a moderate predictive ability in predicting incident AF.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with HFpEF, the risk of advanced liver fibrosis is associated with an increased incidence of new-onset AF and may be a novel predictor for new-onset AF. Additional studies are needed to confirm our results.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and risk of new-onset heart failure: an updated meta-analysis of about 11 million individuals

OBJECTIVE

Recent studies reported an association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and increased risk of new-onset heart failure (HF). However, the magnitude of the risk and whether this risk changes with severity of liver disease remains uncertain. We performed a meta-analysis of observational studies to quantify the magnitude of the association between NAFLD and risk of new-onset HF.

DESIGN

We systematically searched Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed from database inception to March 2022 to identify eligible observational studies, in which NAFLD was diagnosed by serum biomarkers/scores, International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes, imaging techniques or liver histology. The primary outcome was new-onset HF, as assessed mainly by ICD codes. Data from selected studies were extracted, and meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models to obtain summary hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs.

RESULTS

We identified 11 longitudinal cohort studies with aggregate data on 11 242 231 middle-aged individuals from different countries and 97 716 cases of incident HF over a median of 10 years. NAFLD was associated with a moderately higher risk of new-onset HF (pooled random-effects hazard ratio 1.50, 95% CI 1.34 to 1.67, p<0.0001; I 2=94.8%). This risk was independent of age, sex, ethnicity, adiposity measures, diabetes, hypertension and other common cardiovascular risk factors. Sensitivity analyses did not change these results. The funnel plot did not show any significant publication bias.

CONCLUSION

NAFLD is associated with a 1.5-fold higher long-term risk of new-onset HF, regardless of the presence of diabetes, hypertension and other common cardiovascular risk factors. However, the observational design of the studies does not allow for proving causality.

Increases in Hepatokine Selenoprotein P Levels Are Associated With Hepatic Hypoperfusion and Predict Adverse Prognosis in Patients With Heart Failure

Background

Although multiorgan networks are involved in the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF), interactions of the heart and the liver have not been fully understood. Hepatokines, which are synthesized and secreted from the liver, have regulatory functions in peripheral tissues. Here, we aimed to clarify the clinical impact of the hepatokine selenoprotein P in patients with HF.

Methods and Results

This is a prospective observational study that enrolled 296 participants consisting of 253 hospitalized patients with HF and 43 control subjects. First, we investigated selenoprotein P levels and found that its levels were significantly higher in patients with HF than in the controls. Next, patients with HF were categorized into 4 groups according to the presence of liver congestion using shear wave elastography and liver hypoperfusion by peak systolic velocity of the celiac artery, which were both assessed by abdominal ultrasonography. Selenoprotein P levels were significantly elevated in patients with HF with liver hypoperfusion compared with those without but were not different between the patients with and without liver congestion. Selenoprotein P levels were negatively correlated with peak systolic velocity of the celiac artery, whereas no correlations were observed between selenoprotein P levels and shear wave elastography of the liver. Kaplan‐Meier analysis demonstrated that patients with HF with higher selenoprotein P levels were significantly associated with increased adverse cardiac outcomes including cardiac deaths and worsening HF.

Conclusions

Liver‐derived selenoprotein P correlates with hepatic hypoperfusion and may be a novel target involved in cardiohepatic interactions as well as a useful biomarker for predicting prognosis in patients with HF.

Association of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Hepatic Fibrosis with Epicardial Adipose Tissue Volume and Atrial Deformation Mechanics in a Large Asian Population Free from Clinical Heart Failure

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular disease share several cardiometabolic risk factors. Excessive visceral fat can manifest as ectopic fat depots over vital organs, such as the heart and liver. This study assessed the associations of NAFLD and liver fibrosis with cardiac structural and functional disturbances. We assessed 2161 participants using ultrasound, and categorized them as per the NAFLD Fibrosis Score into three groups: (1) non-fatty liver; (2) fatty liver with low fibrosis score; and (3) fatty liver with high fibrosis score. Epicardial fat volume (EFV) was measured through multidetector computed tomography. All participants underwent echocardiographic study, including tissue Doppler-based E/e’ ratio and speckle tracking-based left ventricular global longitudinal strain, peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS), and atrial longitudinal strain rates during systolic, early and late-diastolic phases (ALSRsyst, ALSRearly. ALSRlate). Larger EFV, decreased e’ velocity, PALS, ALSRsyst, and ALSRearly, along with elevated E/e’ ratio, were seen in all groups, especially in those with high fibrosis scores. After multivariate adjustment for traditional risk factors and EFV, fibrosis scores remained significantly associated with elevated E/e’ ratio, LA stiffness, and decreased PALS (β: 0.06, 1.4, −0.01, all p < 0.05). Thus, NAFLD is associated with LV diastolic dysfunction and subclinical changes in LA contractile mechanics.

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Consecutive Right Heart Failure Lead to Liver Fibrosis

Hepatic congestion occurs in patients with right heart failure and can ultimately lead to liver fibrosis or cardiac cirrhosis. Elevated pulmonary arterial pressure is found in patients with hepatic congestion. However, whether pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) can be a cause of liver fibrosis is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether rats in the SuHx model with severe PAH develop liver fibrosis and to explore the mechanisms of congestive hepatic fibrosis both in rats and humans. To achieve this, PAH was induced in six to eight-week old male Sprague Dawley rats by a single subcutaneous injection of the VEGFR 2 inhibitor SU5416 and subsequent hypoxia for 3 weeks, followed by a 6-week period in room air. SuHx-exposed rats developed severe PAH, right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH), and consecutive right ventricular failure. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological analysis revealed that PAH rats developed both hepatic congestion and liver fibrosis. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) of whole liver RNA sequencing data identified a hepatic stellate cell specific gene signature in PAH rats. Consistently, tissue microarray from liver of patients with histological evidence of hepatic congestion and underlying heart disease revealed similar fibrogenic gene expression patterns and signaling pathways. In conclusion, severe PAH with concomitant right heart failure leads to hepatic congestion and liver fibrosis in the SU5416/hypoxia rat PAH model. Patients with PAH should therefore be screened for unrecognized liver fibrosis.

Liver stiffness for predicting adverse cardiac events in chinese patients with heart failure: a two-year prospective study

BACKGROUND

To investigate whether liver stiffness (LS) can predict adverse cardiac events in Chinese patients with heart failure (HF).

METHODS

A total of 53 hospitalized patients with HF were enrolled, and LS and tricuspid annual plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) were determined with Fibroscan® and echocardiography before discharge. They were divided into two groups: high LS group (LS > 6.9 Kpa, n = 23) and low LS group (LS ≤ 6.9 Kpa, n = 30). Patients were followed up for 24 months at an interval of 3 months. The endpoint of follow-up was death or rehospitalization for HF.

RESULTS

All patients were followed up for 24 months or until the endpoint. Patients in the high LS group had lower platelet count (P = 0.014), lower creatine clear rate (P = 0.014), higher level of B-type natriuretic peptide at discharge (P = 0.012), and lower TAPSE (P < 0.001) than those in the low LS group. During 24 months of follow-up, 3 (5.7%) deaths and 21 (39.6%) hospitalizations for HF were observed. Patients in the high LS group had a higher rate of death/rehospitalization than those in the low LS group (Hazard ratio 4.81; 95% confidence interval 1.69-13.7, P = 0.003) after adjustment for age, sex, platelet count, creatine clear rate, and B-type natriuretic peptide level. Moreover, TAPSE ≤ 16 could predict adverse cardiac events with an HR of 6.63 (95% confidence interval 1.69-13.7, P = 0.004) after adjustment for age, sex, platelet count, creatine clear rate, and B-type natriuretic peptide level.

CONCLUSION

LS and TAPSE could be used to predict worse outcomes in patients with HF.

Prognostic value of the liver fibrosis marker fibrosis-5 index in patients with acute heart failure

Aims

Recently, liver fibrosis markers, such as the fibrosis‐4 index (FIB‐4), have been shown to be associated with prognosis in patients with heart failure. The fibrosis‐5 (FIB‐5) index, which assesses albumin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase and platelet count, is a simple liver fibrosis marker that was reported to be superior to FIB‐4 for differentiation of liver fibrosis. This study aimed to compare the prognostic value of FIB‐4 and FIB‐5 in patients with heart failure.

Methods and results

The FIB‐4 and FIB‐5 scores were calculated at discharge in 906 patients hospitalized with heart failure. The patients were stratified into three groups based on their FIB‐5 scores: low (n = 303), middle (n = 301), and high (n = 302) FIB‐5 groups. The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiac death or rehospitalization for heart failure. The low FIB‐5 group was older and had larger inferior vena cava diameters and higher brain natriuretic peptide levels than the other two groups. The primary endpoint occurred in 156 (51.5%), 110 (36.5%), and 54 patients (17.9%) in the low, middle, and high FIB‐5 groups, respectively (P < 0.001). On Cox proportional hazard analysis, the low FIB‐5 was independently associated with the primary endpoint after adjustment for confounding factors. The association was consistent in both patients with preserved and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and there was no significant interaction between LVEF phenotypes in terms of the prognostic impact of FIB‐5 (P for interaction = 0.311). FIB‐5 was superior to FIB‐4 as a prognostic indicator of the primary endpoint (continuous net reclassification improvement, 0.530; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.399–0.662; P < 0.001; integrated discrimination improvement, 0.072; 95% CI, 0.057–0.088; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The FIB‐5 is a useful risk stratification marker with better prognostic value than FIB‐4 in patients hospitalized with heart failure.

Prognosticators of All-Cause Mortality in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) represents ∼50% of all cases of congestive heart failure (CHF) with prevalence expected to increase with aging of the population. We performed an observational study of all patients admitted to 3 hospitals in the ExcelaHealth care system, Greensburg, PA, with a primary diagnosis of HFpEF heart failure exacerbation between January 2014 and January 2017. Demographic data, laboratory results, and echocardiograms performed closest to index hospitalization were collected. A total of 487 patients were admitted with a primary diagnosis of CHF exacerbation and HFpEF, with a mean age of 80.5 years (±10.9), 62% women and predominantly Caucasian (98.8%). Over a median follow-up of 21.7 months, 246 patients died with an all-cause mortality rate of 51.3%. Receiver operator curves were generated for multiple continuous variables to identify optimal cut-off values Kaplan-Meir survival curves were then generated. Clinical factors were tested by univariate Cox regression modeling, with significant factors entered into a step-wise multivariate model. Our modeling identified age>80 years, serum albumin level<3.2 g/dl, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) >5,000 pg/mL and medial E/e'≥20 as significant, independent predictors of all-cause mortality (p-value <0.0001). Surprisingly, lack of a diagnosis of hypertension was associated with significantly increased mortality risk. In a community-based sample of HFpEF patients, we identified multiple factors that were strong, independent predictors of all-cause mortality that can be easily applied in a clinical setting.

Relationship of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Although there is an established bidirectional relationship between heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and liver disease, the association between heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and liver diseases, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), has not been well explored. In this paper, the authors provide an in-depth review of the relationship between HFpEF and NAFLD and propose 3 NAFLD-related HFpEF phenotypes (obstructive HFpEF, metabolic HFpEF, and advanced liver fibrosis HFpEF). The authors also discuss diagnostic challenges related to the concurrent presence of NAFLD and HFpEF and offer several treatment options for NAFLD-related HFpEF phenotypes. The authors propose that NAFLD-related HFpEF should be recognized as a distinct HFpEF phenotype.

Review article: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular diseases: associations and treatment considerations

BACKGROUND

There are increasing data on the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

AIM

To summarise evidence on the association between NAFLD and CVD in the clinical setting and provide potential therapeutic implications.

METHODS

We searched PubMed. Evidence was primarily derived from meta-analyses. and then, if data were insufficient, from clinical trials, and then from observational studies.

RESULTS

NAFLD has been linked to arterial hypertension, arterial stiffness, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation and aortic valvular sclerosis. Advanced liver fibrosis is a crucial prognostic factor for end-stage liver disease and for cardiovascular and overall mortality. Weight loss through lifestyle modifications (diet and exercise) remains the cornerstone of the management of both NAFLD and CVD, but is difficult to achieve and possibly more difficult to sustain long term. Therefore, pharmacological management of NAFLD seems to be important, although no licenced medication currently exists. Pioglitazone, proposed for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) by most guidelines, increases weight and should be avoided in congestive heart failure. Statins should not be avoided in NAFLD patients at risk for CVD. Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, two classes of anti-diabetic drugs, have shown promising results in NAFLD and CVD, but more studies with hard end points are needed. Obeticholic acid, a promising medication for NASH under investigation, should be carefully considered, owing to its adverse effect on lipid profile.

CONCLUSIONS

NAFLD is associated with CVD, which may have certain clinical and therapeutic implications.

Liver abnormalities in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a cardiopulmonary disease with high mortality. In recent years, it has been recognized that PAH is a multi-organ system disease, involving the systemic circulation, kidneys, skeletal muscles, and the central nervous system, among others. Right heart failure produces congestive hepatopathy, a disease state that has direct consequences on liver biochemistry, histology, and systemic glucose and lipid metabolism. This article aims to summarize the consequences of congestive hepatopathy with an emphasis on liver biochemistry, histology, and PAH-targeted therapy. Furthermore, PAH-specific changes in glucose and lipid metabolism will be discussed.

Autofluorescence spectroscopy and multivariate analysis for predicting the induced damages to other organs due to liver fibrosis

When our liver does not work well, it can induce damage to other organs causing their dysfunction. With this background, we aim to study the effect of liver fibrosis on other organs such as heart, lungs, kidney and spleen by assessing the variations in the inherent emission property of the tissue, using fluorescence spectroscopy. Fluorescence emission spectra from excised organs of liver fibrosis induced rats were collected at excitation wavelengths 320 and 410 nm. Optical redox ratio derived from the spectral data supported by multivariate statistical analysis, principal component analysis followed by linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA) distinguished between control and fibrosis induced groups. The two different excitation wavelength provided variations in the endogenous flurophores collagen, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), lipopigments and porphyrins. Additionally, evaluation of redox ratio provided variations in tissue metabolic activity of different organs. The PCA-LDA modelling yielded a sensitivity of 85 to 97% and specificity of 80 to 96% on 320 nm excitation and a sensitivity of 72 to 100% and specificity of 59 to 100% on 410 nm excitation. Fluorescence emission spectral study along with multivariate analysis paved way to identify the biochemical alterations caused to other organs due to the development of liver fibrosis, which could lead to their damage and dysfunction.

Prognostic Value of Liver Stiffness Measured by Two-Dimensional Elastography in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

Liver stiffness (LS) assessed by ultrasound elastography reflects right-sided filling pressure and offers additional prognostic information in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). However, the prognostic value of LS in heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of LS measured by two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) in patients with HFpEF.We prospectively enrolled 80 patients hospitalized for decompensated HFpEF between September 2019 and June 2020. Patients were categorized into three groups based on the tertile values of LS at discharge.The third tertile LS group had an older age; more advanced New York Heart Association functional class; higher total bilirubin, γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT pro-BNP), and Fibrosis-4 index; a larger right ventricle diastolic diameter, higher tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient, and a larger maximal inferior vena cava diameter. During a median [interquartile range] follow-up period of 212 (82-275) days, 25 (31.2%) patients suffered composite end points (all-cause mortality and rehospitalization for worsening HF). The third tertile LS group had a significantly higher rate of composite end points (log-rank P = 0.002). A higher LS and the third tertile LS were significantly associated with the composite end points, even after adjusting for a conventional validated HF risk score and other previously reported prognostic risk factors.Increased LS measured by 2D-SWE reflects the severity of liver impairment by liver congestion and fibrosis, underlying right HF, and provides additional information for the prediction of poor outcomes in HFpEF.

Impact of liver fibrosis score on prognosis in patients with previous myocardial infarction: A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Liver fibrosis score (LFS) has been used for predicting the cardiovascular outcomes (CVOs) in diverse populations. However, the association of LFS with CVOs in patients with previous myocardial infarction (MI) remains undetermined. We aimed to examine the prognostic value of LFS in patients with prior MI in a prospective cohort.

METHODS

A total of 3718 patients with previous MI were consecutively enrolled from March 2009 to January 2019. Five LFSs including the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score, non-alcohol fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS), Forns score, HUI score and BARD score were used. The CVOs covered major adverse cardiac event (MACEs), cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality. Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

During a mean follow-up of 47.4 ± 24.8 months, 431 (11.6%) MACEs occurred. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that higher LFSs resulted in a significantly higher probability of CVOs. Compared to the lowest score group, multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) of the highest group of FIB-4, NFS, Forns score, HUI score and BARD score were 1.75 (1.32-2.33), 2.37 (1.70-3.33), 2.44 (1.61-3.73), 1.58 (1.16-2.14) and 1.27 (1.03-1.57) respectively. These LFSs were also independent predictors of cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality. Similar results were observed across subgroups analysis. The addition of LFSs to a prediction model significantly increased the C-statistic for CVOs.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study firstly demonstrated that LFS could be used as a risk stratification tool for predicting CVOs in patients with previous MI, which should be evaluated further.

Association of the Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Fibrosis Score with subclinical myocardial remodeling in patients with type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study in China

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, especially with liver fibrosis, is associated with cardiovascular diseases. The Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Fibrosis Score (NFS), a non-invasive marker of advanced fibrosis, was found to be associated with cardiovascular diseases in different populations. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the NFS is associated with subclinical myocardial remodeling in type 2 diabetes patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out in type 2 diabetes patients. The NFS derived from available parameters was calculated, and the participants were divided according to the quartiles of the NFS and grades of the NFS (low, intermediate and high). Fibrosis-4 and Aspartate Aminotransferase to Platelet Ratio Index, another two liver fibrosis scores, were also calculated. Subclinical myocardial remodeling was examined by echocardiography, and its associations with NFS, Fibrosis-4 and Aspartate Aminotransferase to Platelet Ratio Index were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 1,878 type 2 diabetes patients were enrolled in the present study. The NFS was independently associated with sex, age, body mass index, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and glycated hemoglobin in type 2 diabetes patients. Parameters of subclinical myocardial remodeling including left atrial dimension, interventricular septum thickness, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT) and left ventricular mass index were all gradually increased with the increment of the NFS. Linear regression analysis further showed that the NFS was positively associated with left atrial dimension, interventricular septum thickness, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, LVPWT and left ventricular mass index after adjustment for the confounding factors. Similarly, Fibrosis-4 was associated with left atrial dimension, interventricular septum thickness, LVPWT and left ventricular mass index. In contrast, the Aspartate Aminotransferase to Platelet Ratio Index was only associated with LVPWT.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-invasive liver fibrosis scores, especially the NFS, are independently associated with subclinical myocardial remodeling in type 2 diabetes patients.

MMMELD-XI Score Is Associated With Short-Term Adverse Events in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Aim: Accumulating evidence suggests that MELD-XI score holds the ability to predict the prognosis of congestive heart failure. However, most of the evidence is based on the end-stage heart failure population; thus, we aim to explore the association between the MELD-XI score and the prognosis in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Methods: A total of 30,096 patients hospitalized for HFpEF in Fujian Provincial Hospital between January 1, 2014 and July 17, 2020 with available measures of creatinine and liver function were enrolled. The primary endpoint was 60-day in-hospital all-cause mortality. Secondary endpoints were 60-day in-hospital cardiovascular mortality and 30-day rehospitalization for heart failure.

Results: A total of 222 patients died within 60 days after admission, among which 75 deaths were considered cardiogenic. And 73 patients were readmitted for heart failure within 30 days after discharge. Generally, patients with an elevated MELD-XI score tended to have more comorbidities, higher NYHA class, and higher inflammatory biomarkers levels. Meanwhile, the MELD-XI score was positively correlated with NT-pro BNP, left atrial diameter, E/e' and negatively correlated with LVEF. After adjusting for conventional risk factors, the MELD-XI score was independently associated with 60-day in-hospital all-cause mortality [hazard ratio(HR) = 1.052, 95% confidential interval (CI) 1.022–1.083, P = 0.001], 60-day in-hospital cardiovascular mortality (HR = 1.064, 95% CI 1.013–1.118, P = 0.014), and 30-day readmission for heart failure (HR = 1.061, 95% CI 1.015–1.108, P = 0.009). Furthermore, the MELD-XI score added an incremental discriminatory capacity to risk stratification models developed based on this cohort.

Conclusion: The MELD-XI score was associated with short-term adverse events and provided additional discriminatory capacity to risk stratification models in patients hospitalized for HFpEF.

Visceral adiposity, muscle composition, and exercise tolerance in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Aims

Visceral adipose tissue (AT) promotes inflammation and may be associated with disease progression in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We characterized regional AT distribution in HFpEF patients and controls and analysed associations with co‐morbidities and exercise tolerance.

Methods and results

Magnetic resonance imaging was performed to quantify epicardial, liver, abdominal, and thigh skeletal muscle AT. We assessed New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, 6 min walk distance, and global well‐being score. Multivariable linear regression models adjusting for body surface area were used. We studied 55 HFpEF patients (41 women, mean age 67 ± 11 years) and 33 controls (21 women, mean age 57 ± 10 years). Epicardial AT (median [interquartile range] 4.6 [2.0] vs. 3.2 [1.4] mm, P < 0.001), thigh intermuscular fat (11.0 [11.5] vs. 5.0 [2.7] cm², P < 0.001) and liver fat fraction (6.4% [6.1] vs. 4.1% [5.5], P = 0.001) were higher in HFpEF patients than controls. Women with HFpEF had higher abdominal and thigh subcutaneous AT than men. Greater thigh intermuscular fat was associated with higher blood pressure (β [SE] 0.73 [0.17], P < 0.001) and diabetes (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 1.2 [1.0–1.5], P = 0.03). Greater thigh intramuscular fat was associated with both worse NYHA class (β [SE] 2.7 [1.0], P = 0.01) and shorter 6 min walk distance (β [SE] −4.1 [1.9], P = 0.03), and greater epicardial AT (β [SE] −0.2 [0.1], P < 0.001) and liver fat fraction (β [SE] −0.4 [0.2], P = 0.04) were associated with lower global well‐being score.

Conclusions

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction patients have increased epicardial, liver, and skeletal muscle fat compared with controls out of proportion to their increased body size, and adiposity was associated with worse NYHA class and exercise tolerance in HFpEF. These results provide the basis for further investigation into the effect of interventions to reduce regional AT distribution in relation to HFpEF symptoms and pathophysiology.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease as a metabolic disease in humans: A literature review

AIMS

To conduct a systematic literature review to identify recent epidemiological, biomarker, genetic and clinical evidence that expands our understanding of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as a metabolic disorder.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a literature search using PubMed to identify trials, observational studies and meta-analyses published in the past 5 years.

RESULTS

A total of 95 publications met prespecified inclusion criteria and reported on the interplay between NAFLD/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and metabolic dysfunction, in terms of disease burden and/or epidemiology (n = 10), pathophysiology, risk factors and associated conditions (n = 29), diagnosis and biomarkers (n = 34), and treatment approaches (n = 22). There is a growing body of evidence on the links between NAFLD/NASH pathogenesis and mechanisms of metabolic dysfunction, through liver lipid accumulation, insulin resistance, inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrogenic remodelling within the liver. The frequent co-occurrence of NAFLD with obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes supports this premise. Therapeutic approaches originally envisaged for type 2 diabetes or obesity (such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors, insulin sensitizers and bariatric surgery) have shown promising signs of benefit for patients with NAFLD/NASH.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the complex interplay between NAFLD and metabolic dysfunction, there is an urgent need for multidisciplinary collaboration and established protocols for care of patients with NAFLD that are individualized and ideally support reduction of overall metabolic risk as well as treatment for NASH.