Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with coronary disease from a Brazil northeast area.

Background Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most frequent chronic liver injury around the world. It is associated with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. Objective To evaluate the frequency and relevance of NAFLD in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods Patients from a Brazil Northeast area, who underwent elective coronary angiography (CAG) from 2009 to 2010 were included. All of them had suspicion of CAD. Criteria to CAD: presence of obstructive lesions in the epicardial coronary arteries, or in their major branches. NAFLD criteria: presence of hepatic steatosis on ultrasound; exclusion of other liver diseases; ethanol intake ≤ 20g/day. Statistics analysis included Independent t-test, Mann-Whitney and Pearson's chi-squared test. Multivariate regression analysis measured the relationship between the risk factors and the concomitant presence of CAD and NAFLD. Results A total of 244 patients were evaluated: 63.5% had CAD and 42.2% had NAFLD. NAFLD was observed in 43.9% of the CAD patients. The regression analysis showed that the relationship between CAD and NAFLD was positively correlated with HOMA-IR ≥3.0 or insulin resistance and overweight/obesity. Conclusion NAFLD was frequent among CAD patients; insulin resistance and overweight/obesity were the most relevant risk factors related to the association NAFLD and CAD. The results suggest that patients with CAD should be evaluated for NAFLD.