Research advances in association between non- alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease

Non- alcoholic fatty liver disease( NAFLD) has become the most common cause of chronic liver disease in developed countries.The obvious association between NAFLD and cardiovascular disease( CVD) has been proved by a series of retrospective and prospective studies in recent years. It is indicated that NAFLD could result in CVD by increasing carotid intima thickness and arterial wall stiffness and causing endothelial dysfunction,coronary artery calcification,left ventricular remodeling,and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. As an independent risk factor,NAFLD could promote the development and progression of CVD,which,correspondingly,is the main cause of death in NAFLD patients. Therefore,risk assessment for CVD in NAFLD patients is so important that the disease progression could be delayed by lifestyle modification and pharmacotherapy. Then the mortality related to CVD may be reduced and the overall prognosis of NAFLD patients would be improved.