Nearly 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. has a condition known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD.
Scientists already knew NAFLD can lead to permanent liver damage and increase the risk for atherosclerosis when plaque builds up in the arteries.
In a study from Emory University, scientists found an abnormal buildup of fat in the liver not caused by alcohol may greatly increase the risk of heart failure.
They looked at national health survey data from 2005-2018 and found more than 3.8 million adults with NAFLD, including about 400,000 who also had heart failure.
People with NAFLD who were older, male or who had diabetes or coronary heart disease were at particularly higher risk for heart failure.
The researchers found adults with NAFLD were 3.5 times more likely to have heart failure than those without NAFLD.
They suggest that doctors need to keep a close eye on cardiac function as well as liver biomarkers and make sure patients with heart failure are not developing fatty liver disease and vice versa.
Obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol often play a major role in NAFLD.
The team recommends people use AHA’s Life’s Essential 8 checklist for improving and maintaining heart health.
The list calls for keeping a healthy weight, not smoking, being physically active, eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.
The team also calls for future studies that follow people with NAFLD over time to see what factors might help predict heart failure.
If you care about liver health, please read studies about the cause of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and this drug for addiction may help treat alcohol-related liver disease.
For more information about liver health, please see recent studies about how to fight against fatty liver, and results showing this natural compound in vegetables can protect your liver health.
The study was conducted by Dr. Vardhmaan Jain et al and presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions.
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