title: Association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and coronary artery calcification in postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in postmenopausal women, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been known to be associated with cardiovascular disease. However, little information regarding the relationship between NAFLD and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in postmenopausal women is available. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between NAFLD and CAC in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among 4,377 participants who underwent cardiac computed tomography in a health promotion center, 919 postmenopausal women were enrolled. Anthropometric profiles and multiple cardiovascular risk factors were measured. NAFLD was measured by ultrasonography, and CAC was evaluated by cardiac computed tomography. Odds ratios and 95% CI for the presence of CAC, by severity of fatty liver disease, were estimated using logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women were stratified into three groups by severity of NAFLD. There were significant differences in cardiovascular parameters among the groups, and prevalence of CAC significantly increased with severity of NAFLD. On logistic regression analysis after adjustment for multiple risk factors, the odds ratios for the prevalence of CAC were as follows (P < 0.05): no NAFLD, 1.0; mild NAFLD, 1.34 (95% CI, 0.92-2.16); moderate to severe NAFLD, 1.83 (95% CI, 1.06-3.16). However, this association was attenuated after adjustment for insulin resistance (P = 0.16).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a significant correlation between NAFLD and prevalence of CAC, but NAFLD is not an independent factor for coronary atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea 2Severance Institute for Vascular and Metabolic Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chul Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Ji Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Shinae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jong Suk
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyung Rae
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017698:Postmenopause; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*