Hepatosteatosis and atherosclerotic plaque on coronary computed tomography angiography

Jessica Carter , Thomas D Heseltine, Mohammed N Meah, Evangelos Tzolos, Jacek Kwiecinski, Mhairi Doris, Priscilla McElhinney , Alastair J Moss, Philip D Adamson, Amanda L Hunter, Shirjel Alam, Anoop S V Shah, Tania Pawade, Chengjia Wang, Jonathan R Weir-McCall , Giles Roditi, Edwin J R van Beek, Edward D Nicol, Leslee J Shaw, Daniel S. BermanPiotr J Slomka, Nicholas L Mills, Marc R Dweck, David E Newby, Scott W Murray , Damini Dey, Michelle C Williams

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Purpose
To assess the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and quantitative atherosclerotic plaque on CT.

Materials and Methods
In this post-hoc analysis of the prospective Scottish Computed Tomography of the HEART trial (November 2010 to September 2014), hepatosteatosis and coronary artery calcium score were measured on non-contrast CT. Presence of stenoses, visually assessed high-risk plaque, and quantitative plaque burden were assessed on coronary CT angiography. Multivariable models were constructed to assess the impact of hepatosteatosis and cardiovascular risk factors on coronary artery disease.

Results
Images from 1726 participants (mean age, 58 years  9 [standard deviation]; 974 men) were included. Participants with hepatosteatosis (n=155/1726, 9%) had a higher BMI, more hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and higher cardiovascular risk scores (P < .001 for all) compared with those without hepatosteatosis. They had increased coronary artery calcium scores (median, 43 [interquartile range, 0 to 273] Agatston units [AU] versus 19 [0 to 225] AU, P = .046), more non-obstructive disease (48% versus 37%, P = .02) and higher low-attenuation plaque burden (5.11% [0 to 7.16] versus 4.07% [0 to 6.84], P = .04). However, these associations were not independent of cardiovascular risk factors. Over median 4.7 years, there was no evidence of a difference in myocardial infarction between those with and without hepatosteatosis (1.9% versus 2.4%, P = .92).

Conclusion
Hepatosteatosis on CT was associated with an increased prevalence of coronary artery disease on CT, but this was not independent of the presence of cardiovascular risk factors.
Original languageEnglish
JournalRadiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Apr 2022

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