Fatty liver, carotid disease and gallstones: a study of age-related associations

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate carotid intima-media thickening (IMT) and plaques, gallstone disease (GD) and fatty liver (FL) as a function of age.

Methods: In 449 subjects, FL and carotid disease were assessed ultrasonographically. In a subgroup of 65/449 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), carotid disease, GD and associated factors were determined.

Results: FL of unspecified etiology was more common in younger and GD in older individuals. FL subjects had an increased prevalence of IMT and a decreased prevalence of plaques and manifested carotid disease earlier. Plaques were more common in subjects with GD. Age was an independent predictor of carotid disease outcome and FL was a protective factor for plaques. In NAFLD, there was an inverse correlation between body weight and age and the latter independently predicted carotid findings.

Conclusion: Cardiovascular risk in patients with FL and NAFLD needs to be assessed as a function of age and body weight.

Figure 1

Distribution of ultrasonographically diagnosed fatty liver of unspecified etiology in the various age-groups of adulthood. The number of patients enrolled in each age-group is as follows: < 30: 8 cases; 30-39: 19 cases; 40-49: 44 cases; 50-59: 64 cases; 60-69: 98 cases; 70-79: 119 cases; and >80: 97 cases.

Figure 2

Distribution of carotid ultrasound findings in the various age-groups of adulthood. The number of patients enrolled in each age-group is the same as reported in Figure 1.

Figure 3

Inverse correlation between body weight and age in NAFLD patients.

Figure 4

Distribution of carotid ultrasound findings in the various age-groups of adulthood with NAFLD. The number of patients enrolled in each age-group is as follows: < 30: 2 cases; 30-39: 4 cases; 40-49: 16 cases; 50-59: 25 cases; 60-69: 14 cases; and 70-79: 4 cases.