Approved Research

Association between cardiovascular health and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Lay summary

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become one of the most prevalent chronic liver diseases and affects 25% general population worldwide. NAFLD is recognized as the liver component of a collection of conditions that are associated with systematic metabolic dysfunction, including abdominal obesity, hypertension, atherogenic dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance, which are also well-established risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Increasing evidence indicates the presence of NAFLD is associated with an increased prevalence and incidence of CVD.

Recently, the American Heart Association (AHA) proposed a novel measurement of cardiovascular health (CVH), namely Life's Essential 8 (LE8), to further improve the general population's health. Given the close associations between NAFLD and the established CVD risk factors, promoting CVH may be an appropriate prevention and management strategy for reducing the burden of NAFLD.

Our study aims to assess the association between CVH and NAFLD in the UK population by conducting a prospective cohort study. Multiple statistical methods will be used to reduce the confounding bias, including multivariable-adjusted regression models and mendelian randomization.

Our study will extend the range of health outcomes associated with the beneficial role of ideal CVH metrics in NAFLD in addition to CVD and indicates that adherence to ideal CVH metrics may be an appropriate prevention and management strategy for reducing the burden of NAFLD as well as other chronic diseases including CVD.