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Association Between Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Coronary Artery Calcification

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Abstract

Background

Both nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) are closely related to many metabolic disorders. Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) is a reliable noninvasive method in demonstrating coronary plaque. However, the association between coronary artery calcium (CAC) score and NAFLD remains controversial.

Aims

The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between CAC score and NAFLD.

Methods

This retrospective study enrolled 295 consecutive asymptomatic subjects who had both coronary angiography by MSCT and hepatobiliary imaging during self-paid physical check-ups.

Results

NAFLD was found in 41% of the enrolled 295 subjects; gall bladder stones were found in 10.8%, and CAC > 100 with moderate-high risk of CAD was found in 12.9% of subjects. Male gender (odds ratios (OR), 3.087; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.092–8.729), increased age (OR, 1.108; 95% CI, 1.067–1.151), diabetes mellitus (DM) (OR, 2.968; 95% CI, 1.129–7.803), and NAFLD (OR, 2.462; 95% CI, 1.065–5.691) were the independent factors that increased the risk of CAC > 100 in binary logistic regression. The prevalence of NAFLD also increased with the severity of CAC score (≤100, 38.1%; 101–400, 58.3%; >400, 64.3%; P = 0.03).

Conclusions

Besides the traditional risk factors, such as male gender, increased age, and DM, NAFLD was also associated with moderate to high risk of CAD (CAC > 100).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Digestive Disease Center, Changhua Show-Chwan Memorial Hospital, 542, Section 1, Chung-Shang Road, Changhua, 500, Taiwan

    Chien-Hua Chen, Chi-Chieh Yang & Yung-Hsiang Yeh

  2. Digestive Disease Center, Chang-Bing Show-Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan

    Chien-Hua Chen & Yung-Hsiang Yeh

  3. Meiho Institute of Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan

    Chien-Hua Chen

  4. Department of Medical Research, Show-Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan

    Chiu-Kue Nien

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  1. Chien-Hua Chen
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  2. Chiu-Kue Nien
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Correspondence to Chien-Hua Chen.

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Chen, CH., Nien, CK., Yang, CC. et al. Association Between Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Coronary Artery Calcification. Dig Dis Sci 55, 1752–1760 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-009-0935-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-009-0935-9

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