Key result
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in postmenopausal women was associated with significantly greater arterial stiffness (CIMT and cf-PWV) and decreased FMD compared to controls (P<0.001).
Why the study?
Does nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) increase arterial stiffness in nondiabetic, nonhypertensive postmenopausal women?
Observational (n=1,007)
Does nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) increase arterial stiffness in nondiabetic, nonhypertensive postmenopausal women?
p-value: p=<0.001
NAFLD is associated with increased arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction in postmenopausal women, even in the absence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, or metabolic syndrome.
Should not yet change risk assessment in postmenopausal women; leaves open need for prospective outcome studies.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and arterial stiffness in nondiabetic, nonhypertensive postmenopausal women with and without metabolic syndrome. METHODS: We divided 1007 postmenopausal women into two groups (NAFLD and controls) and then three groups (NAFLD with metabolic syndrome, NAFLD without metabolic syndrome, and controls), respectively. To exclude the influence of confounding factors, we studied a specifically selected group with no additional cardiovascular risk. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) were measured in all study patients and controls. RESULTS: Patients with NAFLD had significantly greater CIMT than did controls (P < 0.001). cf-PWV was also significantly higher in patients with NAFLD than in controls (P < 0.001). We found significantly decreased FMD in patients with NAFLD than in control patients (P < 0.001). Although patients with NAFLD and metabolic syndrome had greater CIMT and cf-PWV and less FMD than healthy patients did (P < 0.05), there were no significant differences in CIMT, cf-PWV, and FMD (P > 0.05) between patients with NAFLD with and without metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION: The presence of NAFLD is associated with an increased risk of arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women, independent of the presence of metabolic syndrome.
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Li et al. (2017) conducted an observational in Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (n=1,007). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease vs. Controls without NAFLD was evaluated on Carotid intima-media thickness, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, and flow-mediated dilatation (p=<0.001). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in postmenopausal women was associated with significantly greater arterial stiffness (CIMT and cf-PWV) and decreased FMD compared to controls (P<0.001).
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