Excess cardiovascular mortality in men with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A cause for concern!

Core Tip

Core Tip: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as the commonest cause of chronic liver disease worldwide in recent years. In recent years, our understanding of NAFLD has evolved from an isolated liver condition to a systemic disease with significant manifestations beyond the liver. Amongst them, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the most important and clinically relevant. Recent research supports a strong independent link between NALFD and CVD beyond the shared risk factors and pathophysiology. The findings from translational research and recent clinical data support the heightened risk of major adverse cardiovascular-cerebral events (MACCE) amongst male with NAFLD compared to females. Further, there was racial variation in MACCE outcomes in NAFLD, with excess mortality in the Native Americans and Asian Pacific Islanders compared to the other races largely attributable to the increased comorbidity burden and unfavorable genetics.