MASLD may Significantly Increases Long-Term Risk of Atrial Fibrillation, suggests study
Researchers have demonstrated that metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) was found to increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), significantly increasing the long-term risk and a condition associated with the severe cardiovascular complications. A recent study was conducted by Alessandro and colleagues which was published in the journal Liver International.
This systematic review and meta-analysis included cohort studies up to September 30, 2024. Electronic databases were searched to select the articles. Confirmation of MASLD diagnosis through biopsy of the liver, imaging techniques, ICD codes, or blood-based scores occurred. The key outcome studied was incident AF. Its assessment used ICD codes, medical records, or electrocardiograms. Synthesis used a random-effects model; sensitivity analyses validated the results.
Key Results
A total of 16 retrospective cohort studies including around 19.5 million individuals with a median follow-up time of 7.2 years were included in the analysis. Key results included the following:
• Incidence AF Risk: MASLD was associated with a 20% higher risk of incident AF (random-effects hazard ratio 1.20, 95% CI 1.10–1.32; I² = 92%).
• Liver Fibrosis Severity: The association remained when adjusted for liver fibrosis severity (random-effects hazard ratio 1.22, 95% CI 1.18–1.26; I² = 10%).
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