Fatty Liver Disease Significantly Increases Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke

Fatty liver disease substantially elevates the risk of heart attack and stroke by promoting the development of unstable arterial plaques, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed data from 3,600 patients presenting with chest pain, finding that 26% of participants had fatty liver disease via CT scans. Patients with the condition exhibited arterial plaques that were 24% larger and lacked protective calcium deposits, making them more prone to rupture and subsequent cardiovascular events. During the follow-up period, the rate of cardiovascular complications was 4.1% for those with fatty liver disease, compared to 2.5% for those without. Adjusting for other risk factors, the study found that fatty liver disease increases the risk of serious cardiac complications by 69%. Researchers suggest that regular CT scans could serve as a critical tool for the early detection of high-risk patients.