Arterial stiffness is increased in nondiabetic, nonhypertensive postmenopausal women with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Relation between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and carotid artery intimal media thickness as a surrogate for atherosclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by hepatic steatosis without heavy alcohol consumption or other chronic conditions, encompasses a spectrum from non-alcoholic fatty liver to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis leading to cirrhosis. This analysis aimed to investigate the correlation between NAFLD and carotid intimal media thickness (C-IMT), a non-invasive surrogate for atherosclerosis.

METHODOLOGY

Database searches, including PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library, yielded studies up to April 2023. Included were studies exploring the NAFLD-C-IMT relationship in populations aged >18 years. Exclusions comprised non-English papers, those involving animals or pediatric populations and studies lacking control groups.

RESULTS

No statistical significance was noted between mild and moderate NAFLD compared to the control group regarding C-IMT [95% confidence intervals (CI): -0.03, 0.12] and (95% CI: -0.03, 0.21), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference only in the Severe NAFLD group ( P value 0.03). NAFLD with and without metabolic syndrome showed statistically significant differences compared to control regarding C-IMT (95% CI: 0.04, 0.12) and (95% CI: 0.01, 0.07), respectively. Fifty-nine studies were mentioned without classification of NAFLD severity and revealed a high statistically significant difference between NAFLD and controls regarding C-IMT with (95% CI: 0.09, 0.12, P < 0.00001). Stratified analysis according to sex was done in two studies and revealed statistical differences between NAFLD and control regarding C-IMT in both groups.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis underscores a significant association between NAFLD and increased C-IMT, emphasizing the importance of assessing C-IMT in NAFLD patients to identify cardiovascular risk and tailor therapeutic interventions for improved patient outcomes.

Association of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and carotid media-intima thickness: A systematic review and a meta-analysis

Introduction

The relationship between cardiovascular disorders and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been extensively studied. To better pool this data and make a more definite conclusion, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between NAFLD and the thickness of media and intima of carotid artery (CIMT) and cardiovascular disorders.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Ovid, Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, and analyzed the pooled data using R studio and the "metafor" package.

Results

The final analysis included a total of 59 studies with 16,179 cases and 26,120 control individuals. NAFLD was shown to be associated with an increase of 0.1231 mm (20.6%) in carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) (p = 0.002, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.0462-0.2000) in individuals with NAFLD. The prevalence of atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid arteries and the occurrence of NAFLD are significantly correlated, according to a meta-analysis based on 17 distinct studies (p = 0.001, 1.28-1.43, 95% CI, odds ratio = 1.356).

Conclusion

Patients with increased CIMT are considerably more likely to have NAFLD. Large prospective investigations are required to corroborate these findings and their prognostic significance, along with the effectiveness of the available interventions.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver and fibrosis is associated with cardiovascular structure and function in young adults

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease shares many risk factors with other metabolic disorders. We sought to establish whether non-alcoholic fatty liver disease may be associated with cardiovascular health independently of other known risk factors.

METHODS

In this prospective, population-based cohort of young adults, controlled attenuation parameter-defined liver steatosis, transient elastography-defined liver fibrosis, echocardiography, carotid ultrasonography, and pulse wave analysis were assessed at age 24 years. We examined associations between liver and cardiovascular measures, with and without accounting for demographics, body mass index, alcohol, smoking, blood pressure, lipidemia, glycemia, and inflammation.

RESULTS

We included 2047 participants (mean age 24.4 y; 36.2% female): 212 (10.4%) had steatosis, whereas 38 (1.9%) had fibrosis. Steatosis was associated with cardiovascular measures after adjusting for demographics, but with more comprehensive adjustment, steatosis only remained associated with stroke index [β (95% CI) of -1.85 (-3.29, -0.41) mL/m2] and heart rate [2.17 (0.58, 3.75) beats/min]. Fibrosis was associated with several measures of cardiovascular structure and function after full adjustment for risk factors, including left ventricular mass index [2.46 (0.56, 4.37) g/m2.7], E/A ratio [0.32 (0.13, 0.50)], tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion [0.14 (0.01, 0.26) cm], carotid intima-media thickness [0.024 (0.008, 0.040) mm], pulse wave velocity [0.40 (0.06, 0.75) m/s], cardiac index [-0.23 (-0.41, -0.06) L/min⋅m2], and heart rate [-7.23 (-10.16, -4.29) beats/min].

CONCLUSIONS

Steatosis was not associated with measures of cardiovascular structure and function nor with subclinical atherosclerosis after adjusting for known cardiovascular risk factors. Fibrosis, however, was associated with several cardiovascular measures, including indicators of subclinical atherosclerosis, even after full adjustment. Further follow-up will help determine whether cardiovascular health worsens later with steatosis alone.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease increases risk of carotid atherosclerosis and ischemic stroke: An updated meta-analysis with 135,602 individuals

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease. While existing studies have examined cardiac remodeling in NAFLD, there has been less emphasis on the development of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke. We sought to conduct a meta-analysis to quantify the prevalence, risk factors, and degree of risk increment of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke in NAFLD.

METHODS

Embase and Medline were searched for articles relating to NAFLD, carotid atherosclerosis, and stroke. Proportional data was analysed using a generalized linear mixed model. Pairwise meta-analysis was conducted to obtain odds ratio or weighted mean difference for comparison between patients with and without NAFLD.

RESULTS

From pooled analysis of 30 studies involving 7,951 patients with NAFLD, 35.02% (95% confidence interval [CI], 27.36-43.53%) had carotid atherosclerosis with an odds ratio of 3.20 (95% CI, 2.37-4.32; P<0.0001). Pooled analysis of 25,839 patients with NAFLD found the prevalence of stroke to be 5.04% (95% CI, 2.74-9.09%) with an odds ratio of 1.88 (95% CI, 1.23-2.88; P=0.02) compared to non-NAFLD. The degree of steatosis assessed by ultrasonography in NAFLD was closely associated with risk of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke. Older age significantly increased the risk of developing carotid atherosclerosis, but not stroke in NAFLD.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis shows that a stepwise increment of steatosis of NAFLD can significantly increase the risk of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke development in NAFLD. Patients more than a third sufferred from carotid atherosclerosis and routine assessment of carotid atherosclerosis is quintessential in NAFLD.

Endothelial Dysfunction in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are characterized by increased cardiovascular risk. Endothelial dysfunction, a mechanism implicated in those processes, may constitute the missing link in this interaction. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the association of endothelial dysfunction, assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, with NAFLD. We conducted a systematic literature search for studies assessing the difference in FMD between patients with NAFLD and controls. Exclusion criteria consisted of preclinical studies, studies in children/adolescents, no FMD assessment, and the absence of an NAFLD/control group. The database search identified 96 studies. Following the application of the exclusion criteria, 22 studies were included in the meta-analysis (NAFLD: 2164 subjects; control: 3322 subjects). Compared with controls, patients with NAFLD had significantly lower FMD% values (SMD: −1.37, 95% CI −1.91 to −0.83, p < 0.001, I2: 98%). Results remained unaffected after exclusion of any single study. Subgroup analysis revealed significantly decreased FMD in NAFLD subjects diagnosed with liver ultrasound or liver biopsy compared with method combination or other methods, while no differences were observed according to the chosen cuff inflation threshold, the presence of a significant difference in obesity measures between the groups, or the type of the control group (age- and sex-matched vs. other). Funnel plot asymmetry was not observed. Finally, compared with patients with pure steatosis, individuals with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis had significantly lower FMD (SMD: −0.81, 95% CI −1.51 to −0.31, p = 0.003, I2: 81%). In conclusion, FMD of the brachial artery, indicative of endothelial dysfunction, was significantly reduced in subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis might be facing a more pronounced endothelial impairment.

Research status and progress of metabolic associated fatty liver disease

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a more appropriate general predicate to describe non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The new definition lists metabolic dysfunction as an important cause of liver disease, demonstrates the high heterogeneity of this condition, and speeds up the transformation path to new treatment. The incidence of extrahepatic complications and related diseases of MAFLD far exceed that of the liver disease itself, which seriously threatens human health. In view of the current insufficient understanding of its severity, and the imperfect understanding of the disease scope, pathogenesis, and diagnosis of extrahepatic complications, especially the lack of effective drug treatment, this paper introduces and reviews the research status and progress of extrahepatic complications of MAFLD.

Relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease

With the in-depth study of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), it has been found in recent years that NAFLD is closely related to cardiovascular disease (CVD). It has been proved that NAFLD is not only an important risk factor for CVD, but it is also an important mechanism of atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, and hypertension in young people. This article reviews the recent progress in the understanding of the relationship between NAFLD and CVD, with an aim to improve the knowledge of CVD physicians on liver disease and provide reference for prevention and treatment of these conditions.

Arterial stiffness is associated independently with liver stiffness in biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a transient elastography study

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been associated with an increased arterial stiffness. However, the question as to whether an association exists between the extent of vascular and liver stiffness in patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD remains open. In this study, we sought to investigate whether pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) - two common indices of arterial stiffness - are associated with (a) liver stiffness measurement (LSM) on transient elastography (TE) and (b) histological liver fibrosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We examined 125 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 55 age-matched and sex-matched controls. Arterial stiffness of the brachial artery was measured using a Mobil-O-Graph arteriography system. LSM was assessed using TE, whereas the presence of advanced fibrosis (F ≥ 3) was determined on histology.

RESULTS

Patients with NAFLD had higher PWV [median: 7.2 (6.3-8.2) and 6.2 (5.5-6.7) m/s, respectively, P < 0.001] and AIx (mean: 21.3 ± 13.5 and 17.2 ± 11.9%, respectively, P=0.01) compared with the controls. LSM showed positive correlations with both PWV (ρ = 0.300; P<0.01) and AIx (ρ = 0.223, P = 0.02). Both indices of arterial stiffness were higher in patients with advanced fibrosis than in those with nonadvanced fibrosis (F ≤ 2).

CONCLUSION

The severity of arterial and liver stiffness increases in parallel in patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD. Systematic risk assessment for reducing arterial stiffness is recommended in the presence of TE-determined advanced fibrosis.

Cardiovascular Risk in Fatty Liver Disease: The Liver-Heart Axis-Literature Review

According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for approximately 18 million deaths per year. Nevertheless, the worldwide prevalence of metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), also known to be common risk factors for CVD, have dramatically increased over the last decades. Chronic alcohol consumption is a major cause of chronic liver diseases (CLD) as well as being a major health care cost expenditure accounting for the spending of tremendous amounts of money annually. NAFLD has become one of the major diseases plaguing the world while standing as the most common cause of liver disease in the Western countries by representing about 75% of all CLD. Currently, the most common cause of death in NAFLD remains to be CVD. Several mechanisms have been suggested to be responsible for associating FLD with CVD through several mechanisms including low-grade systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, adipokines, endoplasmic reticulum stress, lipotoxicity and microbiota dysbiosis which may also be influenced by other factors such as genetic and epigenetic variations. Despite of all this evidence, the exact mechanisms of how FLD can causally contribute to CVD are not fully elucidated and much remains unknown. Moreover, the current literature supports the increasing evidence associating FLD with several cardiovascular (CV) adverse events including coronary artery disease, increased subclinical atherosclerosis risk, structural alterations mainly left ventricular hypertrophy, increased epicardial fat thickness, valvular calcifications including aortic valve sclerosis and mitral annular calcification and functional cardiac modifications mainly diastolic dysfunction in addition to cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrythmias and conduction defects including atrioventricular blocks and bundle branch blocks. Patients with FLD should be evaluated and managed accordingly in order to prevent further complications. Possible management methods include non-pharmacological strategies including life style modifications, pharmacological therapies as well as surgical management. This review aims to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the pathophysiological mechanisms linking FLD with an increased CV risk, in addition to associated CV adverse events and current management modalities.

Relationships between chronic comorbidities and the atherosclerosis indicators ankle-brachial index and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

This study aimed to determine associations between ankle-brachial index (ABI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) with different comorbidities in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Records of patients with type 2 DM who received an ABI and baPWV examination between August 2013 and February 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Associations of ABI and baPWV with chronic kidney disease (CKD), chronic liver disease (CLD), coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetic nephropathy (DN) were examined by regression analysis. A total of 1232 patients (average age, 65.1±10.0 years) were included in the analysis. CKD and DN were associated with low ABI and increased baPWV (all, P<0.001). No associations were found between CAD and CLD and ABI or baPWV. Thus, regression analysis was performed for CKD and DN. Low ABI was associated with risk of CKD in the crude model (OR 0.724, 95% CI 0.648 to 0.808, P<0.001) and adjusted model (OR 0.872, 95% CI 0.762 to 0.999, P=0.048), whereas baPWV was only significant in the crude model (OR 1.199, 95% CI 1.112 to 1.294, P<0.001). Low ABI was associated with risk of DN in the crude model (OR 0.873, 95% CI 0.780 to 0.977, P=0.018) and adjusted model (OR 0.884, 95% CI 0.782 to 0.999, P=0.048). No association was found for baPWV. In conclusion, low ABI was associated with risk of CKD and DN in patients with type 2 diabetes.