Association Between Cardiovascular Risk and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can be considered either an independent disease or a component of metabolic syndrome, and it is associated with conditions such as diabetes, obesity, lipid metabolism disorders, and hypertension. NAFLD and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases share common risk factors, including obesity, diabetes, and lipid metabolism disorders. Currently, the hypothesis that NAFLD is an independent cardiovascular risk factor is widely accepted, with this association influencing the onset or exacerbation of atherosclerotic processes. This has significant implications for the diagnosis and risk assessment of cardiovascular diseases in patients with NAFLD. The aim of the study is to analyze the role of NAFLD as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases associated with metabolic dysfunction. The focus will be on common cardiovascular manifestations in patients with NAFLD to identify the relationships between metabolic disorders and the development of cardiovascular diseases. To achieve this goal, an analysis of sources from foreign and domestic literature on this issue was conducted, primarily from 1990 to 2023. The databases used include PubMed and E-library. The impact of NAFLD on cardiovascular diseases is attributed to chronic inflammation, cholesterol metabolism disorders, and endothelial dysfunction. Additionally, liver cirrhosis leads to alterations in blood pressure regulation, cardiac dysfunction, and hemodynamic disturbances. Liver pathology, as a significant factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases, requires a comprehensive approach to treatment. Atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases are also prevalent among patients with NAFLD due to shared risk factors. The higher prevalence of coronary artery calcification, hypertension, aortic valve sclerosis, diastolic dysfunction, atherosclerotic plaques, and increased intima-media thickness of the carotid arteries in patients with NAFLD compared to those without further supports this observation.