Prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND: Several common metabolic risk factors contribute to development of both non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim was to determine prevalence of NAFLD in patients with CAD. METHODS: This prospective study was carried out from December 2011 to June 2012. All patients with documented diagnosis of CAD with stenosis of one of the main coronary arteries or their branches were included in the study. Ultrasound examination of liver was performed in all patients to diagnose hepatic steatosis. Accordingly, the severity of steatosis was graded from 0 (absence of steatosis) to 3 (severe steatosis). Finally, prevalence of NAFLD was determined in the studied patients. RESULTS: Among 170 patients with CAD included in the study, 63 and 17 had grade 1 and 2 hepatic steatosis in ultrasound examination, respectively, providing prevalence of 47% in studied population. There was no significant difference between patients with NAFLD and those without NAFLD regarding gender (P = 0.120), presence of diabetes mellitus (P = 0.270), hyperlipidemia (P = 0.210) and hypertension (P = 0.870). There was no association between involvement of left anterior descending artery and hepatic steatosis (P = 0.870). CONCLUSION: The present study indicated a high prevalence of NAFLD in patients with documented CAD.