Effect of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease on In-Hospital and Long-Term Outcomes in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a risk factor for coronary artery disease. We investigated the effect of NAFLD grade on in-hospital and long-term outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The study group consisted of 360 patients with STEMI. The patients were classified according to the grade of the NAFLD using ultrasonography. Based on this classification, all patients were divided into 4 subgroups as grade 0 (no fatty liver disease), grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3. Hierarchical logistic regression and Cox proportional regression analysis were used to establish the relation between NAFLD grade and outcomes. In-hospital mortality for grade 0, 1, 2, and 3 NAFLDs were 4.7%, 8.3%, 11.3%, and 33.9%, respectively. Three-year mortality for grade 0, 1, 2, and 3 NAFLDs were 5.6%, 7.8%, 9.5%, and 33.3%, respectively. In the multivariable hierarchical logistic regression analysis, in-hospital mortality risks were higher for patients with grade 3 NAFLD (odds ratio 4.2). In a multivariable Cox proportional regression analysis, the mortality risk was higher for patients with grade 3 NAFLD (hazard ratio 4.0). In conclusion, in patients with STEMI, the presence of NAFLD is associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. Among these patients, grade 3 NAFLD had the highest mortality rates. The present study supports NAFLD screening in patients with STEMI.