Background and aims
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease and have adverse impacts on the cardiac structure and function. Little is known about the effect of non-obese NAFLD upon cardiac function and structure. We aimed to compare the echocardiographic parameters reflecting the structures and functions of left ventricle (LV) between non-obese NAFLD group and control group, and explore the correlation of non-obese NAFLD with early LV diastolic dysfunction.
Methods and results
In this cross-sectional study, 316 non-obese inpatients were enrolled, including 72 participants with NAFLD (non-obese NAFLD group) and 244 participants without NAFLD (control group). LV structural and functional indices of two groups were comparatively analyzed. Early LV diastolic dysfunction was defined as the ratio of the peak velocity of the early filling (E) wave to the atrial contraction (A) wave <1. Compared with control group, the non-obese NAFLD group had the lower E/A〔(0.80±0.22) vs (0.88±0.35), X2=2.528, p =0.012〕and the smaller LV end-diastolic diameter〔(4.51±0.42)cm vs (4.64±0.43)cm, X2=2.182, p=0.030〕. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that non-obese NAFLD was independently associated with an increased risk of early LV diastolic dysfunction〔OR=4.050,95%CI (1.452,11.296),p=0.008〕.
Conclusions
Non-obese NAFLD was associated with an increased risk of early LV diastolic dysfunction, independent of well-identified cardiovascular risk factors.