Hepatosteatosis and Atherosclerotic Plaque at Coronary CT Angiography.

PURPOSE

To assess the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and quantitative atherosclerotic plaque at CT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this post hoc analysis of the prospective Scottish Computed Tomography of the HEART trial (November 2010 to September 2014), hepatosteatosis and coronary artery calcium score were measured at noncontrast CT. Presence of stenoses, visually assessed high-risk plaque, and quantitative plaque burden were assessed at coronary CT angiography. Multivariable models were constructed to assess the impact of hepatosteatosis and cardiovascular risk factors on coronary artery disease.

RESULTS

Images from 1726 participants (mean age, 58 years ± 9 [SD]; 974 men) were included. Participants with hepatosteatosis (155 of 1726, 9%) had a higher body mass index, more hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and higher cardiovascular risk scores ( < .001 for all) compared with those without hepatosteatosis. They had increased coronary artery calcium scores (median, 43 Agatston units [AU] [interquartile range, 0-273] vs 19 AU [0-225], = .046), more nonobstructive disease (48% vs 37%, = .02), and higher low-attenuation plaque burden (5.11% [0-7.16] vs 4.07% [0-6.84], = .04). However, these associations were not independent of cardiovascular risk factors. Over a median of 4.7 years, there was no evidence of a difference in myocardial infarction between those with and without hepatosteatosis (1.9% vs 2.4%, = .92).

CONCLUSION

Hepatosteatosis at CT was associated with an increased prevalence of coronary artery disease at CT, but this was not independent of the presence of cardiovascular risk factors. CT, Cardiac, Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Coronary Artery Disease, Hepatosteatosis, Plaque QuantificationClinical trial registration no. NCT01149590 © RSNA, 2022See also commentary by Abohashem and Blankstein in this issue.