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NAFLD in type 1 diabetes associated with subclinical CVD risk
The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was found to be low in a small cohort of adults with type 1 diabetes, but those with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease had increased carotid intima-media thickness compared with those without the disease, study data show.
Manel Puig-Domingo, MD, PhD, of the department of endocrinology and nutrition at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and diabetes and associated metabolic diseases at the Instituto de Salud Carlos III in Spain, and colleagues evaluated 100 adults (mean age, 39.4 years; 54% men) with type 1 diabetes (mean diabetes duration, 21.7 years; mean HbA1c, 8.1%) to determine the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its potential relationship with subclinical cardiovascular disease.
All participants underwent abdominal ultrasonography for detection of NAFLD, carotid ultrasonography to measure carotid intima-media thickness and atheroma plaques, and cardiac tomography for evaluation of coronary artery calcium score.
Overall, 12% of participants met criteria for NAFLD on liver ultrasonography.
Mean carotid intima-media thickness was 0.54 mm for all participants, and 17 presented with carotid plaques. A calcium score greater than 0 was present in 27% of the whole study cohort and in 23% of those with type 1 diabetes.
Participants with NAFLD had higher carotid intima-media thickness (0.65 mm) compared with participants without NAFLD (0.55 mm; P = .029). No differences were found between the participants for the existence of plaques or prevalence of microvascular complications.
“The present study supports the relationship between NAFLD and subclinical [CVD] even in a geographical area such as Spain having a low prevalence of CVD among the general population and also in [type 1 diabetes] subjects,” the researchers wrote. “This is of relevance for a better categorization and identification of [type 1 diabetes] subjects at risk of early atherosclerosis in order to perform the best protective CV treatment and prevent excess CV mortality in this population.” – by Amber Cox
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.