Fatty liver, carotid disease and gallstones: a study of age-related associations.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate carotid intima-media thickening (IMT) and plaques, gallstone disease (GD) and fatty liver (FL) as a function of age.


METHODS
In 449 subjects, FL and carotid disease were assessed ultrasonographically. In a subgroup of 65/449 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), carotid disease, GD and associated factors were determined.


RESULTS
FL of unspecified etiology was more common in younger and GD in older individuals. FL subjects had an increased prevalence of IMT and a decreased prevalence of plaques and manifested carotid disease earlier. Plaques were more common in subjects with GD. Age was an independent predictor of carotid disease outcome and FL was a protective factor for plaques. In NAFLD, there was an inverse correlation between body weight and age and the latter independently predicted carotid findings.


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiovascular risk in patients with FL and NAFLD needs to be assessed as a function of age and body weight.
Lonardo
Amedeo
A
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia-Azienda USL, Department of Internal Medicine, Metabolism, Endocrinology and Geriatrics, Ospedale di Baggiovara, Via Giardini, 41100 Modena, Italy. a.lonardo@libero.it
Lombardini
Silvia
S
Scaglioni
Federica
F
Ballestri
Stefano
S
Verrone
Anna-Maria
AM
Bertolotti
Marco
M
Carulli
Lucia
L
Ganazzi
Dorval
D
Carulli
Nicola
N
Loria
Paola
P
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D001835:Body Weight; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography