THE ASSOCIATION OF NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE (NAFLD) WITH VARIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS AMONG PATIENTS OF CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and to assess the association of NAFLD with cardiovascular risk factors in patients with CAD”

METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was carried out among confirmed cases of CAD for evaluation of an association of NAFLD with various cardiovascular risk factors at Department of Cardiology Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro. A total of 92 eligible individuals were selected for the cohort (both men and women, between 20 to 80 years) who were pre-booked for a coronary angiography. The participants in the study were stratified into two distinct cohorts based on the presence or absence of comorbidity with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), designated as the non-NAFLD-CAD cohort and the CAD cohort. The data were subjected to analysis utilizing SPSS version 26 statistical software, with statistical significance established at p ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS: The study involved a sample of 92 subjects with an average age of 52.36±14.01 years. A substantial proportion of the participants (51.1%) fell within the age bracket of >50 years, and 52.2% of the individuals were classified as female. The coronary artery disease was noted in 57.6% patients. In distribution of association of cardiovascular risk factors with NAFLD, obesity was noted in (65.6%; p=0.019), hypertension (66.7%; p=0.025), dyslipidemia (43.3%; p=0.054), smoking (84.6%; p=0.030), family history of CAD (63.6%; p=0.666), and metabolic syndrome (76.7%; p=0.001).

CONCLUSION: Among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was significantly associated with major cardiovascular risk factors including obesity, and hypertension, tobacco consumption, and metabolic syndrome. These observations imply that NAFLD may assume a contributory function in the elevation of cardiovascular risk levels. Systematic screening for NAFLD in patients with CAD is recommended to facilitate prompt intervention and comprehensive management strategies aimed at alleviating the incidence of cardiovascular complications