Abstract P304: Fatty liver disease is Associated with Aortic Valve Sclerosis in the General Population

Abstract

Background: Fatty liver disease has been linked to increased cardiovascular risk and mortality, but the precise mechanisms are incompletely understood. We aimed to assess whether fatty liver disease is associated with aortic valve sclerosis in the community. Methods: Cross-sectional data (1,150 men and 1,087 women, aged 45–81 years) from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP), in northeast Germany, were analyzed. Fatty liver disease was defined as a hyperechogenic ultrasound pattern of the liver in conjunction with increased serum alanine aminotransferase levels. Aortic valve sclerosis was determined by echocardiography and defined as an abnormal irregular thickening and a focal or diffuse increase of the echogenicity of the leaflets. Results: The prevalences of fatty liver disease and aortic valve sclerosis were 15.6% and 32.5%, respectively. Among participants with fatty liver disease, aortic valve sclerosis was much more common than in indivivuals without fatty liver disease (prevalence aortic valve sclerosis 38.3% vs. 29.2%; p=0.001). Upon adjustment for confounding factors (including age, sex, waist circumference, alcohol consumption, physical activity, systolic blood pressure, antihypertensive medication, total/HDL cholesterol ratio, lipid-lowering medication, HBA1c, anti-diabetic medication, and estimated glomerular filtration rate), individuals with fatty liver disease had 38% higher odds ratio of presenting with aortic valve sclerosis as compared to those without fatty liver disease (95% confidence interval, OR 1.02 to 1.88). Conclusions: Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that fatty liver disease is associated with aortic valve sclerosis, independently of classic cardiovascular risk factors. Metabolic changes secondary to fatty liver disease may have a pro-atherogenic effect promoting the development of the aortic valve calcification and sclerosis.