Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and progression of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes: a Korean cohort study

• Published in: Cardiovascular diabetology 2020-06, Vol.19 (1), p.81-81, Article 81
• Main Authors: Lee, Hyeok-Hee, Cho, Yongin, Choi, Young Ju, Huh, Byung Wook, Lee, Byung-Wan, Kang, Eun Seok, Park, Seok Won, Cha, Bong-Soo, Lee, Eun Jig, Lee, Yong-Ho, Huh, Kap Bum
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Alcohol; Arteriosclerosis; Atherosclerosis; Body mass index; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Carotid arteries; Carotid artery; Carotid Artery Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Artery Diseases - epidemiology; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Cholesterol; Cohort analysis; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - diagnosis; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - epidemiology; Disease Progression; Exercise; Fatty liver; Female; Fibrosis; Glucose; Health risk assessment; Heart; Hepatic fibrosis; Humans; Insulin; Insulin resistance; Kidney diseases; Laboratories; Liver Cirrhosis - diagnostic imaging; Liver Cirrhosis - epidemiology; Liver diseases; Male; Metabolic syndrome; Middle Aged; Mortality; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - diagnostic imaging; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - epidemiology; Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; Original Investigation; Physical fitness; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Regression analysis; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Seoul - epidemiology; Steatosis; Studies; Time Factors; Type 2 diabetes; Ultrasonic imaging
• ISSN: 1475-2840; 1475-2840
• DOI: 10.1186/s12933-020-01064-x

There is increasing concern regarding cardiovascular risk in individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This study was conducted to evaluate whether hepatic steatosis with or without fibrosis is associated with the progression of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes. From a longitudinal cohort, we enrolled 1120 patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent repeated carotid artery ultrasonography every 1-2 years. Ultrasonographic findings at baseline and after 6-8 years were compared. Presence of hepatic steatosis was mainly assessed by abdominal ultrasonography; patients with hepatic steatosis were further evaluated for hepatic fibrosis according to fibrosis-4 index. We investigated the association between liver status and atherosclerosis progression. Of 1120 patients, 636 (56.8%) were classified as having hepatic steatosis at baseline. After 6-8 years, 431 (38.5%) showed atherosclerosis progression. Hepatic steatosis was significantly associated with atherosclerosis progression (adjusted odds ratio[AOR]: 1.370, 95% CI 1.025-1.832; p