Body weight variability and the risk of cardiovascular outcomes in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Sci Rep. 2021 Apr 28;11(1):9154. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-88733-3.

Abstract

We investigated the association between body weight variability and the risks of cardiovascular disease and mortality in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using large-scale, nationwide cohort data. We included 726,736 individuals with NAFLD who underwent a health examination between 2009 and 2010. NAFLD was defined as a fatty liver index ≥ 60, after excluding significant alcohol intake, viral hepatitis, and liver cirrhosis. Body weight variability was assessed using four indices, including variability independent of the mean (VIM). During a median 8.1-year follow-up, we documented 11,358, 14,714, and 22,164 cases of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and all-cause mortality, respectively. Body weight variability was associated with an increased risk of MI, stroke, and mortality after adjusting for confounding variables. The hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals) for the highest quartile, compared with the lowest quartile, of VIM for body weight were 1.15 (1.10-1.20), 1.22 (1.18-1.26), and 1.56 (1.53-1.62) for MI, stroke, and all-cause mortality, respectively. Body weight variability was associated with increased risks of MI, stroke, and all-cause mortality in NAFLD patients. Appropriate interventions to maintain a stable weight could positively affect health outcomes in NAFLD patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Body Weight*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis / complications
  • Liver Cirrhosis / mortality
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / epidemiology
  • Myocardial Infarction / etiology
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / complications*
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / mortality*
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Stroke / epidemiology
  • Stroke / etiology