A recent study published in the European Journal of Radiology reveals that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may increase the risk of recurrent strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIA) in patients with carotid atherosclerosis. NAFLD, the most common chronic liver disease, was found to be an important predictor in patients already at risk of cardiovascular issues.
The study, which included 742 participants with carotid atherosclerosis, followed patients for nearly three years. During this period, 166 patients experienced either a recurrent ischemic stroke or a TIA. The research demonstrated that those with NAFLD had a significantly lower event-free survival rate than those without the condition.
NAFLD was identified as a key factor in predicting these outcomes, alongside other clinical data and plaque characteristics. A combined model incorporating NAFLD and these factors showed the best predictive performance, suggesting that NAFLD could serve as a valuable imaging marker in assessing cardiovascular risk.