Fatty liver index-left ventricular mass link stronger in women

An association exists between fatty liver index and left ventricular mass (LVM)/LVM index (LVMI), irrespective of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, as indicated by evidence from two independent prospective cohorts. Additionally, these associations are more prominent among women and Black individuals and are tempered by high physical activity.

Prospective analyses were carried out to assess the relationship between FLI and LVM across 1,962 participants from the Bogalusa Heart Study (BHS, 1995–2010) and 1,547 participants from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS, 2001–2011) free of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) at baseline.

LVM was evaluated by two-dimensional guided M-mode echocardiography and indexed to body height (m^2.7). Multivariable regression models were applied after adjusting for traditional CVD risk factors.

In both cohorts, FLI was significantly associated with LVM (BHS: β, 0.59; p<0.001; YFS: β, 0.41; p<0.001) and LVMI (BHS: β, 0.14; p<0.001; YFS: β, 0.09; p<0.001). Notably, the association between FLI and LVMI was more pronounced in women than men (BHS: p_interaction=0.01; YFS: p_interaction<0.01), and the relationship between FLI and LVM/LVMI was more evident in Black than White individuals (LVM: p_interaction=0.02; LVMI: p_interaction=0.04).

Additionally, high physical activity attenuated the association between FLI and LVM/LVMI, particularly in BHS (p_interaction=0.02).

“Heart disease is the most common cause of death in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD),” the investigators said. “Emerging data have shown that NAFLD may affect subclinical myocardial remodeling, mainly left ventricular hypertrophy.”