Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome and subclinical cardiovascular changes in the general population

Abstract
Objective The effect of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on cardiovascular system remains controversial. We investigated the independent contribution of NAFLD to cardiovascular structure and function in the general population. Methods A total of 1886 participants without known cardiovascular disease were enrolled from the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study. The participants were divided into four groups, based on the presence of NAFLD, metabolic syndrome (MetS), neither or both. NAFLD was diagnosed by CT. Changes in cardiovascular structure and function were assessed by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) echocardiography, carotid ultrasound and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Results In multivariate analyses, subjects with both NAFLD and MetS had a higher E/Ea ratio and baPWV, as well as a lower TDI Ea velocity (all pConclusions NAFLD was associated with early alterations of cardiovascular system, independent of established cardiovascular risk factors and MetS.