Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a potential risk factor of non-specific ST-T segment changes: data from a cross-sectional study

Li Xiao; Tao Bai; Junchao Zeng; Rui Yang; Ling Yang

doi:10.7717/peerj.9090

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a potential risk factor of non-specific ST-T segment changes: data from a cross-sectional study

PeerJ. 2020 May 13:8:e9090. doi: 10.7717/peerj.9090. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Li Xiao^#¹, Tao Bai^#¹, Junchao Zeng², Rui Yang², Ling Yang¹

Affiliations

¹ Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
² Physical Examination (Health Management) Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: Non-specific ST-T segment changes are prevalent and are proven risk factors for early onset of cardiovascular diseases. They can increase all-cause mortality by 100∼200% and are candidate for early signs of cardiovascular changes. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is prevalent worldwide and is one facet of a multisystem disease that confers substantial increases morbidity and mortality of nonalcoholic fatty liver-related cardiovascular diseases. It is unclear whether NAFLD is associated with non-specific ST-T changes warning early signs of cardiovascular changes. Therefore, we investigated this association.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed that included a sample consisting of 32,922 participants who underwent health examinations. Participants with missing information, excessive alcohol intake, viral hepatitis, chronic liver disease or established cardiovascular diseases were excluded. Electrocardiograms were used for analysis of non-specific ST-T segment changes. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasonographic detection of hepatic steatosis without other liver diseases. A multivariable logistic regression model was served to calculate the OR and 95% CI for non-specific ST-T segment changes.

Results: The prevalence of non-specific ST-T segment changes was 6.5% in participants with NAFLD, however, the prevalence of NAFLD was 42.9% in participants with non-specific ST-T segment changes. NAFLD was independently associated with non-specific ST-T segment changes (OR: 1.925, 95% CI: 1.727-2.143, P < 0.001). After adjusting for age, sex, heart rate, hypertension, body mass index, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, NAFLD remained an independent risk factor of non-specific ST-T segment changes (OR: 1.289, 95% CI: 1.122-1.480).

Conclusion: Non-specific ST-T segment changes were independently associated with the presence of NAFLD after adjusting for potential confounders.

Keywords: Confidence interval; Non-specific ST-T segment; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Odds ratio; Risk factor.

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81974078, 81570530, 81370550 to Ling Yang), the Department of Science and Technology, Hubei Provincial People’s Government (No. 2019ACA133 to Ling Yang) and the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (No. 2018ADC073 to Rui Yang). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.