The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease: A pilot study

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is frequently associated with metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, especially atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD). However, data on the prevalence of NAFLD in patients with atherosclerotic CAD are scarce. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of NAFLD in patients with atherosclerotic CAD at a public hospital cardiology outpatient clinic. Methods: Cross-sectional study involving 31 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, percutaneous coronary intervention, or acute myocardial infarction history. The presence of hepatic steatosis was assessed by abdominal ultrasonography and graded as mild, moderate or marked. Results: The overall prevalence of NAFLD was 70.97%, 58.06% with mild and 12.9% with moderate steatosis. NAFLD was observed in 66.67% of patients with normal BMI, 85.71% with overweight and 57.14% with grade 1 obesity. Among NAFLD patients, 72% practised less than moderate physical activity and 80% moderate. Of the patients with metabolic syndrome, 81.82% had NAFLD, 54.55% with mild and 27.27% with moderate steatosis. NAFLD was observed in 70% of people with diabetes and 71.43% of nondiabetic patients. Conclusion: NAFLD was highly prevalent, but the association with diabetes mellitus did not increase the prevalence, unlike metabolic syndrome and overweight.