IMPACT OF NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE ON CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN A GENERAL POPULATION

Abstract

Background: Background:Nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) is a major cause of liver disease worldwide leading also to a higher risk of cardiovascular events. We aimed to evaluate the impact of fatty liver and fibrosis on cardiovascular risk factors in a general population. Methods: 604 subjects included in the community-based ABCD (Alimentazione, Benessere Cardiovascolare e Diabete) study were recruited. Steatosis (CAP >288 dB/m) and fibrosis (> 8.7 KPa by M and > 7.2 KPa by XL probe) were assessed with FibroScan Cardiovascular risk was evaluated by the Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) risk estimator and de ned low if <5%, borderline if 5%-7 4%, intermediate if 7-9% and high.5%-19.if ≥20%. Intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured with ultrasound (US) Multivariate linear linear, ordinal and logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of CV risk and IMT Results: Prevalence of steatosis and of brosis in this cohort were 28 6% and 6 6%, respectively Subjects with NAFL, when compared to those without, had on average a higher IMT (0,75 vs 0 68 mm; 002) and more frequently p=0.=an IMT≥1mm (15.6% vs n10.4% p=0. n=0.07), these associations being lost after adjusting for ASCVD score (p=0. =0.66 for IMT OR1.14,95%C.I.0.64-2.02, p=0.64 for IMT≥1mm). Patients with signican't fibrosis, respect to their counterpart, had also significant higher IMT(0.8 vs 0.7 mm; p=0.005) and =sig