Ultrasonography-diagnosed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is not associated with prevalent ischemic heart disease among diabetics in a multiracial Asian hospital clinic population

Wah-Kheong Chan; Alexander Tong-Boon Tan; Shireene Ratna Vethakkan; Pei-Chien Tah; Anushya Vijayananthan; Khean-Lee Goh

doi:10.1016/j.clinre.2014.02.009

Ultrasonography-diagnosed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is not associated with prevalent ischemic heart disease among diabetics in a multiracial Asian hospital clinic population

Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol. 2014 Jun;38(3):284-91. doi: 10.1016/j.clinre.2014.02.009. Epub 2014 Apr 13.

Authors

Wah-Kheong Chan¹, Alexander Tong-Boon Tan², Shireene Ratna Vethakkan², Pei-Chien Tah³, Anushya Vijayananthan⁴, Khean-Lee Goh⁵

Affiliations

¹ Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
³ Department of Dietetics, University of Malaya Medical Centre, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
⁴ Department of Bio-Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
⁵ Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

PMID: 24736032
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2014.02.009

Abstract

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular diseases are both common among patients with diabetes mellitus.

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine if ultrasonography-diagnosed NAFLD is associated with prevalent ischemic heart disease (IHD) among patients with diabetes mellitus.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study on consecutive patients seen at the Diabetic Clinic, University of Malaya Medical Centre. The medical record for each patient was reviewed for documented IHD. Patients without documented IHD but had symptoms and/or electrocardiographic changes suggestive of IHD were referred for cardiac evaluation.

Results: Data for 399 patients were analyzed. Mean age was 62.8±10.5 years with 43.1% male. NAFLD and IHD were present in 49.6 and 26.6%, respectively. The prevalence of IHD among patients with and without NAFLD was 24.7 and 28.4%, respectively (P=0.414). The prevalence of IHD was highest among the Indians (34.1%) followed by the Malays (29.2%) and the Chinese (20.1%). No association was found between NAFLD and IHD when analyzed according to ethnicity. On multivariate analysis, independent factors associated with IHD were older age, lower levels of physical activity, greater waist circumference and higher serum glycated hemoglobin level.

Conclusions: Ultrasonography-diagnosed NAFLD was not associated with prevalent IHD among patients with diabetes mellitus in a multiracial Asian hospital clinic population.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Acute Coronary Syndrome / epidemiology*
Age Factors
Coronary Artery Disease / epidemiology*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diabetes Mellitus / epidemiology*
Female
Glycated Hemoglobin / analysis
Humans
Malaysia / epidemiology
Male
Middle Aged
Multivariate Analysis
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / diagnostic imaging*
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / epidemiology
Outpatient Clinics, Hospital
Racial Groups / statistics & numerical data
Sedentary Behavior
Ultrasonography
Waist Circumference

Substances

Glycated Hemoglobin A