Liver fibrosis in fatty liver patients linked to higher arrhythmia risk

Researchers at Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital have identified a significant link between liver fibrosis in fatty liver disease patients and an increased risk of arrhythmia, specifically atrial fibrillation.

Using data from the Lifelines study, a large-scale population-based cohort in the Netherlands, the study analyzed 10,263 patients. By utilizing the FIB-4 index—a non-invasive measure of liver fibrosis—researchers found that patients with a FIB-4 index of 1.45 or higher faced a fivefold higher risk of developing new arrhythmias compared to those below that threshold. Notably, the risk of atrial fibrillation was 6.8 times higher in this group.

The correlation remained significant even after adjusting for metabolic risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Among patients aged 50 and older with high FIB-4 levels, the risk of atrial fibrillation was approximately 2.7 times higher. In contrast, no new cases of arrhythmia were observed in patients under the age of 50, even with high fibrosis indices.

Lead researchers Kim Seung-hyun and Ryu Dam emphasized the need for an integrated clinical approach, suggesting that physicians should monitor fatty liver patients for cardiac risks alongside liver disease progression.