Key result
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Indian patients was significantly associated with a 21.3% higher mean carotid intima-media thickness compared to controls (SMD 1.001).
Why the study?
Given that ethnic and regional differences impact NAFLD, the authors aimed to evaluate the association of NAFLD patients from India with subclinical atherosclerosis measured as CIMT.
Does non-alcoholic fatty liver disease increase carotid intima-media thickness in adult Indian patients?
Meta-Analysis (n=2,788)
Does non-alcoholic fatty liver disease increase carotid intima-media thickness in adult Indian patients?
Standardized Mean Difference: 1.001 (95% CI 0.627–1.375)
p-value: p=<0.001
In Indian patients, NAFLD is significantly associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness and a higher prevalence of carotid plaques, indicating an elevated risk of subclinical atherosclerosis.
NAFLD linked to higher CIMT in Indians; extends global association evidence to this population and supports targeted CVD risk assessment.
There is a significant association of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Most CVDs begin with atherosclerosis in the arteries, which can be reliably measured as the carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) by ultrasound. Given that ethnic and regional differences have an impact on NAFLD, we aimed to evaluate the association of NAFLD patients from India with subclinical atherosclerosis, measured as CIMT. A thorough literature search was performed on four electronic databases using combinations of several keywords. The relevant data were pooled in a random or fixed-effect model, based on heterogeneity, to calculate the pooled standardised mean difference (SMD), or odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). The final analysis included a total of 15 studies with 1196 NAFLD and 1482 control subjects. NAFLD patients had a 21.3% higher mean CIMT than the controls. The pooled SMD was 1.001 (95% CI: 0.627-1.375, p < 0.001). Three studies that balanced cardiometabolic risk factors found a similar association (p = 0.037). Furthermore, NAFLD was significantly associated with the presence of high (>0.8 mm) CIMT (pooled OR = 5.4, 95% CI: 2.0-14 .9) and carotid plaques (pooled OR = 10.24, 95% CI: 5.74-18.26). The mean CIMT was also higher in diabetic NAFLD than in the diabetic control (pooled SMD = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.818-1.324, p < 0.001). There is a significant positive association between the marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and NAFLD in India. This might give more light on screening and follow-up plans for such patients.
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Kumar et al. (2024) conducted a meta-analysis in Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (n=2,788). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease vs. Non-NAFLD controls was evaluated on Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) (SMD 1.001, 95% CI 0.627-1.375, p=<0.001). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Indian patients was significantly associated with a 21.3% higher mean carotid intima-media thickness compared to controls (SMD 1.001).
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