Liver fibrosis according to diabetes status and relation to cardiovascular risk and mortality in US adults

Study objective: Liver fibrosis is associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and mortality. However, it is unknown how these risks compare in those with pre-diabetes (pre-DM) or diabetes (DM). We examined the association of FIB-4 levels, an indicator of liver fibrosis, with CVD risk and mortality according to DM status.

Design and setting: Prospective, longitudinal cohort study.

Participants: We examined 13,326 U.S. adults (6.7 % with DM) with FIB-4 measures classified as low (<1.30), intermediate (1.30- < 2.67), high (2.67- < 3.25), and very high (≥3.25). National Death Index linkage provided mortality status for CVD, liver-related, and all causes over 17.5 years.

Main outcomes: We calculated 10-year ASCVD risk in persons without known ASCVD. Cox regression examined the relation of FIB-4 with mortality by DM status.

Results: High/very high FIB-4 levels were greater in those with (2.2 %) vs. without (0.4 %) DM (p < 0.0001). Higher FIB-4 scores and DM were associated with greater estimated ASCVD risks (p < 0.0001); 44.5 % of those at high /very high FIB-4 levels had ≥20 % estimated ASCVD risk. CVD mortality hazard ratios (HRs) (95 % CI) associated with high/very high FIB-4 in those with pre-DM and DM were 8.76 (3.66-20.95), and 0.89 (0.22-3.53), respectively, and for total mortality were 5.46 (3.16-9.43), and 2.07 (0.90-4.74), respectively, which were attenuated after adjustment.

Conclusions: Our findings indicate the need for increased efforts to identify those at risk of liver fibrosis in adults with pre-DM or DM to prevent CVD and total mortality.