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LIVER FAT CONTENT IS ASSOCIATED WITH INTIMA-MEDIA THICKNESS OF THE AORTA IN ADOLESCENTS
LIVER FAT CONTENT IS ASSOCIATED WITH INTIMA-MEDIA THICKNESS OF THE AORTA IN ADOLESCENTS
Abstract
Background and Aims
The formation of atherosclerosis often initiates during childhood and adolescence and depends on risk factor exposure. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) - the most common liver disease in adolescents. It often remains undetected but would be amenable to treatment including lifestyle interventions. We aimed to assess the association between liver fat content and intima-media thickness of the aorta (aIMT) in adolescents.
Methods
In 485 adolescents from the general population of Tyrol we carefully assessed liver fat content, aIMT and cardiovascular risk factors. Liver fat content was measured by means of the controlled attenuation parameter using FibroScan® and the aIMT was assessed by high-resolution ultrasound. A linear regression model with multivariable adjustment for potential confounders was employed to investigate the association between liver fat content and aIMT.
Results
The study participants were on average 17.0 years old (SD 1.4), 43.9% were female and 45.2% were apprentices. Liver fat content significantly predicted aIMT when adjusting for age, sex, education, BMI, systolic blood pressure, LDL-cholesterol, HbA1c, physical activity, alcohol consumption and smoking status (given as difference in aIMT for a 10 dB/m higher liver fat content: 3.3 µm, 95% CI: 0.5-6.1).
Conclusions
Liver fat content was significantly associated with aIMT in adolescents of the general population even after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Hence, MAFLD is an independent biomarker for early atherosclerosis in the youth and might help to identify high-risk populations for CVD.