Development of new fatty liver, or resolution of existing fatty liver, over five years of follow up, and risk of incident hypertension.

Sung, K.C., Wild, S.H. and Byrne, Christopher D. (2014) Development of new fatty liver, or resolution of existing fatty liver, over five years of follow up, and risk of incident hypertension. Journal of Hepatology, 60 (5), 1040-1045. (doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2014.01.009). (PMID:24445219)

Abstract

Background & Aims Approximately 50% of hypertensive patients have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but whether change in fatty liver status over time modifies risk of developing hypertension is uncertain. Our aim was to determine whether a change in fatty liver status (either development of new fatty liver, or resolution of existing fatty liver) over five years modified risk of incident hypertension at five year follow-up. Methods 11,448 patients without hypertension were examined at baseline and at five year follow-up, using a retrospective cohort study design. Fatty liver status (absent or present) was assessed at baseline and follow-up using standard ultrasound criteria. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident hypertension at follow-up were estimated controlling for potential confounders, compared to the reference group (patients who did not have fatty liver at either baseline or follow-up). Results 911 patients developed incident hypertension. Incident fatty liver developed during follow-up in 1418 patients and fatty liver at baseline resolved during follow-up in 684 patients. Developing incident fatty liver was associated with incident hypertension, even after adjustment for multiple confounders (aOR = 1.60 (95% CI 1.30, 1.96; p <0.001). Further adjustment for change in body mass index between baseline and follow-up only slightly attenuated this association (aOR = 1.36 (95% CI 1.10, 1.67; p = 0.004). With resolution of fatty liver at follow-up, risk of incident hypertension was not different from the reference group (aOR = 1.21 (95% CI 0.90, 1.63; p = 0.21). Conclusions Development of incident fatty liver is associated with increased risk of hypertension.

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Contributors

Author: Christopher D. Byrne

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