Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease shown to affect the development of coronary artery calcification

Data revealed today at The International Liver Congress 2015 show that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) plays a role in the early stages of coronary atherosclerosis and in its more severe form it can also promote the development of coronary artery calcification (CAC).

Findings showed that the impact of NAFLD varies significantly depending on the severity of CAC at baseline. In those without CAC, NAFLD significantly affected the development of atherosclerosis; however, in patients with existing CAC at baseline NAFLD did not affect progression of the disease.

A total of 1,732 patients were included in the study:

• Out of 1,732 patients who underwent serial CAC score evaluation, 847 patients had NAFLD and 885 patients did not have NAFLD.
• The baseline CAC score was higher in those with NAFLD and a greater number of these patients displayed progression (48.8% vs. 38.4%, p<0.001 in subjects with vs. without NAFLD)
• NAFLD was prospectively associated with progression of CAC score (OR 1.53, 95% CI: 1.26-1.85, p<0.001)
• Analysis according to the severity of NAFLD showed that NAFLD in its more severe form promotes progression of CAC (adjusted OR 1.77, 95% CI: 1.08-2.88, p=0.022)