Objective

To investigate the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) for cardiovascular disease and all cause death in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Design

Nationwide population based study.

Setting

Longitudinal cohort study in Korea.

Participants

7 796 763 participants in the National Health Screening Programme in 2009 were divided into three groups based on NAFLD status: no NAFLD (fatty liver index<30); grade 1 NAFLD (30≤fatty liver index<60); and grade 2 NAFLD (fatty liver index≥60). Median follow-up was 8.13 years.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome was incident cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke) or all cause death.

Results

Of 7 796 763 participants, 6.49% (n=505 763) had T2DM. More patients with T2DM had grade 1 NAFLD (34.06%) and grade 2 NAFLD (26.73%) than those without T2DM (grade 1 NAFLD: 21.20%; grade 2 NAFLD: 10.02%). The incidence rate (per 1000 person years) of cardiovascular disease and all cause death increased in the order of no NAFLD, grade 1 NAFLD, and grade 2 NAFLD, and the incidence rates in patients with T2DM were higher than those in patients without T2DM. The five year absolute risk for cardiovascular disease and all cause death increased in the order of no NAFLD, grade 1 NAFLD, and grade 2 NAFLD in patients without and with T2DM (no NAFLD, without T2DM: 1.03, 95% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.04, and 1.25, 1.24 to 1.26, respectively; grade 1 NAFLD, without T2DM: 1.23, 1.22 to 1.25, and 1.50, 1.48 to 1.51, respectively; grade 2 NAFLD, without T2DM: 1.42, 1.40 to 1.45, and 2.09, 2.06 to 2.12, respectively; no NAFLD, with T2DM: 3.34, 3.27 to 3.41, and 3.68, 3.61 to 3.74, respectively; grade 1 NAFLD, with T2DM: 3.94, 3.87 to 4.02, and 4.25, 4.18 to 4.33, respectively; grade 2 NAFLD, with T2DM: 4.66, 4.54 to 4.78, and 5.91, 5.78 to 6.05, respectively). Patients with T2DM and without NAFLD had a higher five year absolute risk for cardiovascular disease and all cause death than those without T2DM and with grade 2 NAFLD. Risk differences for cardiovascular disease and all cause death between no NAFLD and grade 1 or grade 2 NAFLD were higher in patients with T2DM than in those without T2DM.

Conclusions

NAFLD in patients with T2DM seems to be associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and all cause death, even in patients with mild NAFLD. Risk differences for cardiovascular disease and all cause death between the no NAFLD group and the grade 1 or grade 2 NAFLD groups were higher in patients with T2DM than in those without T2DM.

PMID: 38350680