A large-scale Korean study conducted by Severance Hospital has found that individuals with persistent metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) face a 57 percent higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to those without the condition.
A Severance Hospital research team found that individuals with persistent metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease face a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to those without the condition. Pictured from left:Professors Kim Seung-up at Severance Hospital, Lee Ho-kyou and Lee Hyeok-hee at Yonsei University College of Medicine, and Professor Lee Han-ah at Chung-Ang University Hospital. (Credit: Severance Hospital)
A Severance Hospital research team found that individuals with persistent metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease face a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to those without the condition. Pictured from left:Professors Kim Seung-up at Severance Hospital, Lee Ho-kyou and Lee Hyeok-hee at Yonsei University College of Medicine, and Professor Lee Han-ah at Chung-Ang University Hospital. (Credit: Severance Hospital)
MAFLD, formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a recently adopted term emphasizing the close link between fatty liver and metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.
In Korea, about 30 percent of the population is estimated to have MAFLD. The condition increases the risk of liver inflammation, fibrosis, and cirrhosis, and also significantly raises the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
The research team, led by Professors Kim Seung-up of the Department of Internal Medicine at Severance Hospital and Lee Ho-kyou and Lee Hyeok-hee of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Yonsei University College of Medicine, followed approximately 7.3 million individuals who underwent the national health screening in 2009 for 12 years.
Professor Lee Han-ah of the Department of Internal Medicine at Chung-Ang University Hospital also participated in the study.
The team analyzed the presence and changes in MAFLD status, the number of cardiovascular risk factors, and their association with the development of cardiovascular disease.
MAFLD was defined in this study as the presence of fatty liver along with at least one metabolic risk factor, including overweight or abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure, high fasting glucose, low HDL cholesterol, or elevated triglyceride levels.
According to the results, individuals with persistent MAFLD had a 57 percent higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to those who remained disease-free.
Those who newly developed MAFLD also showed a 28 percent higher risk, while those whose MAFLD improved over time had a 16 percent lower risk than those with persistent disease.
The study further showed that among MAFLD patients, the risk of cardiovascular disease doubled when all five cardiovascular risk factors were present compared to when only one was present. If all five risk factors persisted over time, the risk increased up to 2.6 times.
“This study is meaningful in that it provides a long-term analysis of how MAFLD status and changes in cardiovascular risk factors affect the development of cardiovascular disease,” Professor Kim said. “Quantitative and continuous evaluation of these risk factors is essential in predicting cardiovascular risk and establishing personalized management strategies for patients with MAFLD.”
The findings were published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
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