Clinical characteristics of coronary artery disease in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD). Methods Totally 234 subjects underwent coronary angiography, including 148 men and 86 women with complete data on metabolic syndrome ( MS) and abdominal ultrasonography; the mean age was 66. 6 years. The severity of CAD was assessed by coronary stenosis index (CSI). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the Guideline on Prevention and Treatment of Blood lipid Abnormality in Chinese Adults. Results Ultrasonography revealed that 62 patients had NAFLD (26. 5%). In patients with NAFLD, the prevalence of central obesity was higher than those without NAFLD (75. 8% vs 50. 0% , P 0.05), however the age of patients in CAD & NAFLD subgroup was significantly lower compared to CAD subgroup ( P = 0.006). According to the results of logistic regression, central obesity was the independent risk factor of NAFLD (β= 1.701, P<0.001). Logistic regression demonstrated that age was independently associated with CAD (β = 0.032, P=0.027). Further more, multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that age was the single parameter that best predicted CSI score (β= 0. 125, P = 0. 022). Conclusions It is important to screen coronary artery disease in middle aged patients with central obesity or NAFLD. Key words: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease;  Coronary artery disease;  Coronary angiography