Abstract 12400: The LDL-C / ApoB Ratio Predicts Future Cardiovascular Events in Cardiovascular Disease Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease as Well as in Those Without Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

Introduction: A low LDL-C / apoB ratio reflects small LDL particle size and is associated with insulin resistance. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NALFD) is an important feature of the insulin resistance syndrome and confers an increased cardiovascular risk. The impact of the LDL-C / apoB ratio on the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with NAFLD is unclear. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that the LDL-C/apoB ratio predicts cardiovascular events in patients with NAFLD. Methods: We enrolled a large high risk cohort of 1515 patients with established cardiovascular disease (1272 patients with angiographically proven stable CAD and 243 patients with sonographically proven peripheral artery disease). NAFLD was diagnosed using the validated fatty liver index. Prospectively, cardiovascular events were recorded over a mean follow-up period of 7.6±4.9 years. Results: At baseline, the LDL-C / apoB ratio was significantly lower in patients with NAFLD (n=709) than in subjects who did not have NAFLD (1.34±0.29 vs. 1.39±0.26 mg/dl; p=0.001). During follow-up, 755 patients suffered cardiovascular events. The event rate was higher in patients with than in those without NAFLD (53.6 vs. 47.6%; p=0.020). The LDL-C/ApoB ratio significantly predicted cardiovascular events in the total study cohort, with a standardized adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 0.86 [0.80-0.94]; p<0.001 and both in patients with NAFLD (HR 0.87 [0.78-0.97]; p=0.013) and in subjects who did not have NAFLD (HR 0.87 [0.77-0.97]; p=0.013, respectively). Conclusions: We conclude that in subjects with established cardiovascular disease the LDL-C / apoB ratio predicts cardiovascular events both among patients with NAFLD and in those who do not have NAFLD.