PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Vincent Wai-Sun Wong
AU  - Grace Lai-Hung Wong
AU  - Gabriel Wai-Kwok Yip
AU  - Angeline Oi-Shan Lo
AU  - Jenny Limquiaco
AU  - Winnie Chiu-Wing Chu
AU  - Angel Mei-Ling Chim
AU  - Cheuk-Man Yu
AU  - Jun Yu
AU  - Francis Ka-Leung Chan
AU  - Joseph Jao-Yiu Sung
AU  - Henry Lik-Yuen Chan
TI  - Coronary artery disease and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
AID  - 10.1136/gut.2011.242016
DP  - 2011 Dec 01
TA  - Gut
PG  - 1721--1727
VI  - 60
IP  - 12
4099  - http://gut.bmj.com/content/60/12/1721.short
4100  - http://gut.bmj.com/content/60/12/1721.full
SO  - Gut2011 Dec 01; 60
AB  - Objective Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and is associated with cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to determine the role of fatty liver in predicting coronary artery disease and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing coronary angiogram.Methods This was a prospective cohort study carried out in a University hospital. Consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiogram had ultrasound screening for fatty liver. Significant cardiovascular disease was defined as ≥50% stenosis in at least one coronary artery. The primary outcome was a composite end point comprising cardiovascular deaths, non-fatal myocardial infarction and the need for further coronary intervention during prospective follow-up.Results Among 612 recruited patients, 356 (58.2%) had fatty liver by ultrasonography, 318 (52.0%) had elevated serum alanine aminotransferase and 465 (76.0%) had significant coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease occurred in 84.6% of patients with fatty liver and 64.1% of those without fatty liver (p<0.001). After adjusting for demographic and metabolic factors, fatty liver (adjusted OR 2.31; 95% CI 1.46 to 3.64) and alanine aminotransferase level (adjusted OR 1.01; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.02) remained independently associated with coronary artery disease. At a mean follow-up of 87±22 weeks, 30 (10.0%) patients with fatty liver and 18 (11.0%) patients without fatty liver reached the composite clinical end point (p=0.79).Conclusions In patients with clinical indications for coronary angiogram, fatty liver is associated with coronary artery disease independently of other metabolic factors. However, fatty liver cannot predict cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in patients with established coronary artery disease.