Yochai Schonmann1, Hanny Yeshua2, Itay Bentov3, Shira Zelber-Sagi4. 1. Siaal Research Center for Family Medicine and Primary Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Department of Quality Measurements and Research, Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel. 2. Clalit Health Services, Tel-Aviv District, Israel; Department of Family Medicine, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. 3. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States. 4. School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel; Department of Gastroenterology, Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Tel-Aviv 6423906, Israel. Electronic address: zelbersagi@bezeqint.net.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A growing body of evidence suggests that Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver fibrosis are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the independent role of liver fibrosis markers in the prediction of CVD in the general population is seldom tested. AIMS: To assess whether a marker of liver fibrosis predicts the first occurrence of a CVD event in a large sample of community-based general population. METHODS: Historical cohort using data from a large health provider that operates a centralized computerized medical record. The level of liver fibrosis was measured by the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score, and the association with CVD was adjusted for the European Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation calculator (SCORE). RESULTS: The study included 8,511 individuals, 3,292 with inconclusive fibrosis and 195 with advanced fibrosis (FIB-4 ≥ 2.67). People with advanced fibrosis had higher risk for CVD, after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, the SCORE, use of statins and aspirin (HR [95%CI], 1.63 [1.29-2.06]). The association persisted in both women and men. Using age-specific cut-offs, there was a dose-response association between inconclusive and advanced fibrosis and CVD (HR [95%CI], 1.15 [1.01-1.31]) and HR [95%CI], 1.60 [1.27-2.01], respectively, P for trend<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A simple fibrosis score is independently associated with CVD, suggesting that fibrosis markers should be considered in primary-care risk assessment.
BACKGROUND: A growing body of evidence suggests that Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver fibrosis are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the independent role of liver fibrosis markers in the prediction of CVD in the general population is seldom tested. AIMS: To assess whether a marker of liver fibrosis predicts the first occurrence of a CVD event in a large sample of community-based general population. METHODS: Historical cohort using data from a large health provider that operates a centralized computerized medical record. The level of liver fibrosis was measured by the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score, and the association with CVD was adjusted for the European Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation calculator (SCORE). RESULTS: The study included 8,511 individuals, 3,292 with inconclusive fibrosis and 195 with advanced fibrosis (FIB-4 ≥ 2.67). People with advanced fibrosis had higher risk for CVD, after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, the SCORE, use of statins and aspirin (HR [95%CI], 1.63 [1.29-2.06]). The association persisted in both women and men. Using age-specific cut-offs, there was a dose-response association between inconclusive and advanced fibrosis and CVD (HR [95%CI], 1.15 [1.01-1.31]) and HR [95%CI], 1.60 [1.27-2.01], respectively, P for trend<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A simple fibrosis score is independently associated with CVD, suggesting that fibrosis markers should be considered in primary-care risk assessment.
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