Fatty liver disease may increase heart failure risk

By Thor Christensen, ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ News

Sebastian Kaulitzki/Science Photo Library via Getty Images
(Sebastian Kaulitzki/Science Photo Library via Getty Images)

Lea en español

An abnormal buildup of fat in the liver not caused by alcohol may greatly increase the risk of heart failure, according to new research.

Nearly 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. has a condition known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD. Scientists already knew NAFLD can lead to permanent liver damage and increase the risk for atherosclerosis, when plaque builds up in the arteries.

But there has been less research on NAFLD's relationship with heart failure, a term used when the heart isn't pumping as well as it should be. About 6 million U.S. adults have heart failure, which can't be cured but can be treated with lifestyle changes, medications and surgical procedures.

Researchers looked at national health survey data from 2005-2018 and found more than 3.8 million adults with NAFLD, including about 400,000 who also had heart failure. People with NAFLD who were older, male or who had diabetes or coronary heart disease were at particularly higher risk for heart failure. But even after adjusting for age, race and gender, the researchers found adults with NAFLD were 3.5 times more likely to have heart failure than those without NAFLD.

"We expected a higher hazard, but not this high," said Dr. Vardhmaan Jain, the study's lead researcher and a cardiology fellow at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

The , presented this month at the ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ's Scientific Sessions, are considered preliminary until full results are published in a peer-reviewed journal.

"Doctors need to keep a close eye on cardiac function as well as liver biomarkers and make sure patients with heart failure are not developing fatty liver disease and vice versa," Jain said.

He said obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol often play a major role in NAFLD. He recommended using the AHA's Life's Essential 8 checklist for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health. The list calls for keeping a healthy weight, not smoking, being physically active, eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.

"The results of this study really hammer home the message about the importance of taking your health seriously early in life and maintaining a healthy lifestyle for the long run," Jain said.

He said the research does not prove cause and effect and was unable to distinguish between different types of heart failure. He called for future studies that follow people with NAFLD over time to see what factors might help predict heart failure.

Dr. P. Barton Duell, who was not involved in the new research, said the results "are another reminder that the diagnosis of NAFLD is associated with increased risk" of heart problems.

Duell, a professor of medicine in the Knight Cardiovascular Institute and Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, chaired the committee that wrote a recent about NAFLD and cardiovascular risk. He said NAFLD also is tied to an increased risk of cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure and liver cancer. As obesity and metabolic syndrome rates continue to rise, he urged medical professionals and the public to take NAFLD seriously.

"NAFLD is an underdiagnosed and underappreciated health risk," Duell said. "It's very common in the general population, and it's important to diagnose it and treat it early."

Find more news from Scientific Sessions.

If you have questions or comments about this ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ News story, please email [email protected].


·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ News Stories

·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ News covers heart disease, stroke and related health issues. Not all views expressed in ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ News stories reflect the official position of the ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ. Statements, conclusions, accuracy and reliability of studies published in ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ scientific journals or presented at ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ’s official guidance, policies or positions.

Copyright is owned or held by the ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to link to, quote, excerpt from or reprint these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ News.

Other uses, including educational products or services sold for profit, must comply with the ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ’s Copyright Permission Guidelines. See full terms of use. These stories may not be used to promote or endorse a commercial product or service.

HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately.