Article Impact Level: HIGH Data Quality: STRONG Summary of Clinical Cardiology, 46(6), 615–621. https://doi.org/10.1002/clc.24015 Dr. Alireza Naderi et al.
Points
- Limited studies exist on the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation.
- A large cohort study involving 4603 individuals aged 35-70 was conducted to determine this association in a generally healthy population.
- Participants with NAFLD had significantly higher mean QTc interval values than those without NAFLD.
- After adjusting for various confounders, participants with NAFLD had a standardized β coefficient of 2.56 ms for QTc interval prolongation.
- After controlling for confounders, NAFLD increased the odds ratio of prolonged QTc interval in men (OR: 1.47) and women (OR: 1.39).
Summary
This research paper investigates the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation. Previous studies on this topic have been limited, prompting the authors to design a large-scale study involving a generally healthy population.
The study analyzed data from the Fasa Cohort Study (FACS), which included 4603 individuals aged 35-70. QT intervals were measured using 12-lead electrocardiograms and corrected using Bazzet’s formula. A QTc interval longer than 430 ms in men and 450 ms in women was considered prolonged. The presence of NAFLD was determined using the Fatty Liver Index.
Out of all participants, 1550 individuals (33.6%) met the criteria for NAFLD. In men and women with NAFLD, the mean QTc interval values were significantly higher than those without NAFLD (p < .001). Through regression analysis, adjusting for various confounders such as age, gender, smoking status, physical activity, cholesterol levels, diabetes, and hypertension, the study found that participants with NAFLD had a standardized β coefficient of 2.56 ms (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.49–4.64) for QTc interval prolongation. Logistic regression analysis revealed that NAFLD increased the odds ratio of prolonged QTc interval in men (OR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.18–1.84, p < .001) and women (OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.15–1.68, p < .001).
In conclusion, this study demonstrates that NAFLD is a risk factor for QTc interval prolongation. Recognizing the association between NAFLD and cardiac arrhythmias can contribute to reducing cardiac mortality. Raising awareness about the potential cardiovascular risks posed by NAFLD is crucial.
Link to the article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/clc.24015
References Naderi, A., Farjam, M., Mojarrad Sani, M., Abdollahi, A., Alkamel, A., Keshavarzian, O., & Tabrizi, R. (2023). The association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and corrected QT interval prolongation among generally healthy Iranian population: Fasa Cohort Study (Facs). Clinical Cardiology, 46(6), 615–621. https://doi.org/10.1002/clc.24015
