Ralph L. Widya MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Renee De Mutsert, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Martin den Heijer, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Saskia le Cessie PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Frits R. Rosendaal MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Wouter J. Jukema MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Grant, Astellas Group Research Grant, AstraZeneca PLC Research Grant, BIOTRONIK GmbH & Co KG Research Grant, Boston Scientific Corporation Research Grant, DAIICHI SANKYO Group Research Grant, Eli Lilly and Company Research Grant, sanofi-aventis Group Research Grant, Medtronic, Inc Research Grant, Merck & Co, Inc Research Grant, Pfizer Inc Research Grant, OrbusNeich Research Grant, Novartis AG Research Grant, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd Research Grant, SERVIER Research Grant, The Medicine Company Speaker, Astellas Group Speaker, AstraZeneca PLC Speaker, BIOTRONIK GmbH & Co KG Speaker, Boston Scientific Corporation Speaker, DAIICHI SANKYO Group Speaker, Eli Lilly and Company Speaker, sanofi-aventis Group Speaker, Medtronic, Inc Speaker, Merck & Co, Inc Speaker, Pfizer Inc Speaker, OrbusNeich Speaker, Novartis AG Speaker, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd Speaker, SERVIER Speaker, The Medicines Company

Jan W. A. Smit MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Albert De Roos MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hildo J. Lamb MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To investigate the relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and left ventricular (LV) diastolic function, and to what extent this association was explained by the metabolic syndrome.

MR spectroscopy and imaging were performed to measure hepatic triglyceride content and LV diastolic heart function (E/A). Linear regression analyses were performed to study their association while adjusting for age, sex, heart rate, alcohol consumption, pack years of smoking, all components of the metabolic syndrome, abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT), body fat, and stratified by BMI < or ≥27 kg/m2.

In 747 participants aged 45-65 years, median (interquartile range) hepatic triglyceride content was 2.55 (1.30-6.06)%. A 10-fold increase in hepatic triglyceride content decreased mean E/A with -0.191 (95%CI: -0.268,-0.115) in participants with a BMI ≥27 kg/m2, but not in participants with a BMI<27 kg/m2 (β -0.065, 95%CI:-0.256,0.125). After adjustments for components of the metabolic syndrome, VAT and body fat this association slightly attenuated (β-0.094, 95%CI: -0.164,-0.023).

Hepatic triglyceride content was associated with LV diastolic dysfunction in participants with a BMI ≥27 kg/m2 while adjusting for confounding factors including the components of the metabolic syndrome and VAT. These observations suggest that NAFLD may pose an independent risk of myocardial dysfunction above and beyond known cardiovascular risk factors which are clustered within the metabolic syndrome.

Our finding that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with diastolic heart function may be of importance for the understanding of the development of cardiovascular disease in the growing obesity epidemic.

Widya, R, De Mutsert, R, den Heijer, M, le Cessie, S, Rosendaal, F, Jukema, W, Smit, J, De Roos, A, Lamb, H, Hepatic Triglyceride Content is Associated with Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Overweight and Obese Individuals: The NEO Study.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14009151.html