The association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and corrected QT interval prolongation among generally healthy Iranian population: Fasa Cohort Study (FACS)

BACKGROUND: There are limited studies about the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation worldwide. HYPOTHESIS: Therefore, we designed the current study to determine this association in a large cohort of a generally healthy population. METHODS: We analyzed the data of 4603 individuals aged 35–70 who participated in the Fasa Cohort Study (FACS). Based on 12‐lead electrocardiograms, QT intervals were calculated and corrected by Bazzet's formula. A QTc interval of more than 430 ms in men and 450 ms in women was considered prolonged. The Fatty Liver Index was used to identify the participants with NAFLD. RESULTS: Of all participants, 1550 (33.6%) met the NAFLD criteria. In subjects of both genders with NAFLD, the mean values of the QTc interval were considerably higher than in those without NAFLD (p < .001). After adjusting for a wide range of confounders, including age, gender, smoking status, physical activity, total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol levels, diabetes, and hypertension status, in linear regression analysis, the standardized β coefficient of QTc interval among participants with NAFLD was 2.56 ms (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.49–4.64). After controlling the same confounders, the odds ratio of NAFLD for a prolonged QTc interval in men was 1.47 (95% CI: 1.18–1.84; p < .001) and in women was 1.39 (95% CI: 1.15–1.68; p < .001) using logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: NAFLD was a risk factor for QTc interval prolongation. Awareness about the risk of NAFLD in increasing the potential cardiac arrhythmias should be raised to lower cardiac mortality.