Evaluation of the Correlation between Coronary Artery Disease and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Is There Any Correlation?

Zahra Momayez Sanat; Seyyed Mojtaba Ghorashi; Ava Ajir; Amir  Fazeli; Hamidreza Hekmat; Negar Omidi

doi:10.18502/jthc.v18i1.12576

Zahra Momayez Sanat Digestive Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Seyyed Mojtaba Ghorashi Department of MPH, Shiraz School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Ava Ajir Digestive Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Amir Fazeli Cardiac Primary Prevention Research Center, Cardiovascular Disease Research Institute, Tehran Heart Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Hamidreza Hekmat Department of Cardiology, Ziaeian Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Negar Omidi Cardiac Primary Prevention Research Center, Cardiovascular Disease Research Institute, Tehran Heart Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jthc.v18i1.12576

Keywords: Myocardial perfusion imaging; Adverse effects; Coronary artery disease; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are 2 common diseases around the globe. This investigation aimed to evaluate NAFLD prevalence in patients with CAD and the potential association between NAFLD and CAD.

Methods: This case-control study was performed between January 2017 and January 2018 at Ziaeian Hospital, Tehran, Iran. All patients aged between 35 and 5 years and referred for myocardial perfusion imaging were selected for the study. Totally, 180 participants were divided into CAD⁺ and CAD⁻ groups. CAD was defined as stenosis of greater than 50.0% in at least 1 coronary artery. Afterward, all the patients underwent abdominal sonography and laboratory tests for NAFLD evaluation. Patients with a history of liver diseases, alcohol consumption, and drug-induced steatosis were excluded.

Results: The study population consisted of 122 women (67.8%) and 58 men (32.2%) at a mean age of 49.31±5.42 years. NAFLD was detected in 115 patients. NAFLD prevalence in the CAD⁺ group was 78.9%. NAFLD was determined as an independent risk factor for CAD (OR, 3.9).

Conclusions: NAFLD prevalence was high in the CAD⁺ group. The incidence of steatosis is on the rise in the general population. Hence, considering the high prevalence of abdominal obesity, all patients with NAFLD should be evaluated for CAD.