Association of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease with Cardiovascular Disease and All-Cause Death in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly prevalent among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and is a significant independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality.Objective: To investigate the association between NAFLD and the incidence of CVD and all-cause mortality in patients with T2DM.Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 300 T2DM patients, divided into NAFLD (n=150) and non-NAFLD (n=150) groups. Baseline data on age, BMI, HbA1c, gender, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking status, duration of diabetes, and medication use were collected. Survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier curves, and statistical significance was determined through t-tests, chi-square tests, and multivariate Cox regression using SPSS version 25.Results: Patients with NAFLD had significantly higher BMI (30.2 ± 4.5 vs. 27.8 ± 3.9 kg/m², p=0.01), HbA1c (8.5 ± 1.2 vs. 7.8 ± 1.1%, p=0.02), and increased risk of CVD events (HR 1.8, p=0.004) and all-cause mortality (HR 2.1, p=0.002).Conclusion: NAFLD is associated with higher rates of CVD and all-cause mortality in T2DM patients, highlighting the need for targeted management strategies.