Risk of Heart Failure in Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease JACC Review Topic of the Week

Heart failure (HF) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are 2 conditions that have become important global public health problems. Emerging evidence supports a strong and independent association between NAFLD and the risk of new-onset HF, and there are multiple potential pathophysiological mechanisms by which NAFLD may increase risk of new-onset HF. The magnitude of this risk parallels the underlying severity of NAFLD, especially the level of liver fibrosis. Patients with NAFLD develop accelerated coronary atherosclerosis, myocardial alterations (mainly cardiac remodeling and hypertrophy), and certain arrhythmias (mainly atrial fibrillation), which may precede and promote the development of new-onset HF. This brief narrative review aims to provide an overview of the association between NAFLD and increased risk of new-onset HF, discuss the underlying mechanisms that link these 2 diseases, and summarize targeted pharmacological treatments for NAFLD that might also reduce the risk of HF. (C) 2022 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.

Automated summary

There is a strong association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and heart failure (HF), with higher severity of NAFLD being associated with an increased risk of new-onset HF. Patients with NAFLD may develop accelerated coronary atherosclerosis, myocardial alterations, and certain arrhythmias, which may precede and promote the development of HF.