Atherosclerosis is a key contributor to cardiovascular disease risk.
The goal of a recent study was to investigate the relationship between metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and the presence and burden of coronary atherosclerotic plaques, as detected by computed tomography angiography (CTA). The study also evaluated the effectiveness of MAFLD in screening for coronary atherosclerotic plaques and plaque burden.
Here, data were obtained from the PolyvasculaR Evaluation for Cognitive Impairment and vaScular Events study – a community-based cohort. Hepatic steatosis was evaluated using the fatty liver index, while coronary atherosclerotic plaques and their burden were detected via CTA.
Among the 3,029 participants (mean age 61.2 ± 6.7 years), 47.9% (1,452) had MAFLD. The presence of MAFLD was linked to increased odds of having coronary atherosclerotic plaques, a higher segment involvement score, and a higher segment stenosis score. Participants with severe fibrosis or those classified under the DM-MAFLD subtype exhibited even higher odds of having coronary plaques and greater plaque burden. MAFLD showed higher sensitivity (54-64%) for detecting coronary plaques and burden than traditional cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia.
Hence, MAFLD is associated with a higher likelihood of coronary atherosclerotic plaques and plaque burden and may serve as a more effective screening tool for coronary atherosclerosis than traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The results indicated that MAFLD may play a significant role in plaque formation and identifying individuals at high risk of atherosclerosis.
Source: Cai X, Su X, Zhang Y, et al. Hellenic J Cardiol. Published online June 11, 2024.
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