"When the Liver Hardens, the Heart Races Too"... People in Their 50s and Older Should Be Especially Careful [Health Check]

[Financial News] When the liver hardens, the heart becomes unstable as well. A study has found that the greater the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with fatty liver disease, the higher the risk of arrhythmia, especially atrial fibrillation, rising by as much as 6.82 times.

In particular, among people aged 50 and older, the risk of atrial fibrillation increased more sharply when the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) Index, which indicates the degree of liver fibrosis, was high.
A research team led by Professor Kim Seung-hyun of the Division of Cardiology and Professor Ryu Dam of the Division of Gastroenterology at Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital analyzed the link between liver fibrosis and the future onset of arrhythmia in 10,263 patients with fatty liver disease, using data from the Lifelines study, a large population-based cohort in the Netherlands.

The team examined the relationship between the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) Index, a noninvasive marker of liver fibrosis, and newly detected arrhythmias on later electrocardiogram tests. Based on the FIB-4 Index, which is calculated using liver enzyme levels, platelet count and age, patients were divided into high- and low-fibrosis-burden groups. The researchers then compared the incidence of new arrhythmias between the two groups.
The results showed that patients with fatty liver disease whose FIB-4 Index was 1.45 or higher had a fivefold higher risk of newly detected arrhythmia during follow-up than those with a score below 1.45. The risk of atrial fibrillation was especially 6.82 times higher. The association remained even after adjusting for metabolic risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia.
By age group, participants aged 50 and older with a high FIB-4 Index had about a 2.7 times higher risk of atrial fibrillation, and the result remained statistically significant even after adjusting for major metabolic risk factors. The overall risk of arrhythmia also showed a tendency to be about twice as high. In contrast, among participants under 50, no new arrhythmia cases occurred during the follow-up period, even when the liver fibrosis index was high.
Professor Kim Seung-hyun said, "This study confirmed that liver fibrosis is not only a marker of the prognosis of liver disease itself, but also an indicator that reflects the risk of arrhythmia." He added, "When treating patients with fatty liver disease, an integrated approach is needed that considers not only the progression of liver disease but also the risk of arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation."
Professor Ryu Dam said, "This study confirmed that liver health and heart health are closely connected." He added, "In particular, patients with fatty liver disease who are 50 or older and have high liver fibrosis scores need regular monitoring, with the possibility of arrhythmia in mind."
The paper by Professors Kim Seung-hyun and Ryu Dam, titled "The Relationship Between the Degree of Liver Fibrosis and the Risk of Arrhythmia in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease," was published in the international journal Scientific Reports in May.
 


[email protected] Medical Reporter Jung Myung-jin Reporter