Preserving good cardiovascular health lowers the risk of mortality and MAFLD: Study

A new study published in the journal of Nature Scientific Reports showed that high Life's Essential 8 (LE8) scores were related to a 90% reduction in cardiovascular mortality, a 58% reduction in all-cause mortality, and an 89% reduction in the risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in overweight and obese people.

About 70% of those who are overweight or obese have MAFLD, compared to 25% of the overall population. MAFLD is the most prevalent liver disease in obese people, and it can lead to more serious liver diseases like cirrhosis, liver fibrosis, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The American Heart Association unveiled Life's Essential 8 (LE8), a new cardiovascular health index, in 2022.

Its precursor, LE7, has shown preventive benefits against cardiovascular and other chronic illnesses, making it a valuable tool for primary prevention in healthcare systems. This study examined the mediating roles of inflammation and insulin resistance in the association between the Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and MAFLD, all-cause, and cardiovascular mortality in various groups.

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2007–2018), which included 6,885 overweight and obese people, were utilized in this retrospective investigation. There were three categories for LE8 scores: low, medium, and high. The associations between LE8, MAFLD, and mortality were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models and weighted logistic regression.