An Assessment of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is most frequently related to type 2 diabetes (T2DM), which can advance to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Prior research has shown that patients with T2DM with NAFLD have a synergistic increase in the atherosclerosis of the cardiac vasculature. Our study aimed to assess and correlate atherosclerotic heart disease in patients with NAFLD and T2DM. Materials and methods: An observational cross-sectional study to know cardiovascular atherosclerotic disease in NAFLD patients with T2DM was conducted between December 2019 and October 2021. Subjects included fifty-five T2DM patients screened as prospects for the study, including patients receiving treatment inside the outpatient department (OPD), an affiliated diabetes clinic, and affected individuals admitted to a hospital. Results: Results showed a moderately positive correlation between an ASCVD risk score and Fibro Scan E results, with the findings being statistically significant. However, there was no significant difference in A.S.C.V.D. Risk score in both fatty and non-fatty liver groups as well as steatosis and non-steatosis groups. Conclusion: Identifying NAFLD in type II DM patients may facilitate better cardiovascular disease risk estimation with practical management implications. Moreover, identifying people with NAFLD would highlight a subgroup of diabetic patients who may benefit from more intensive preventative treatment and cardio-protective measures to decrease their risk of future CVD.