The Prevalence of Cardiovascular Diseases in Patients with Fatty Liver Disease and Study on the Correlation Between Fatty Liver Disease and Atrial Fibrillation

<i>Objective: </i>This study aims to investigate the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in patients with fatty liver disease (FLD) and explore the correlation between FLD and atrial fibrillation (AF). <i>Methods: </i>Participants with relatively complete clinical data were selected from the physical examination center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2019 to December 2021. The prevalence rates of cardiac conduction system lesions, and cardiac structural and functional changes in the group with fatty liver and group without fatty liver were analyzed and compared. The association between FLD and AF was proved by Logistic regression analysis. <i>Results: </i>For cardiac conduction system lesions, the prevalence of atrioventricular block, bundle branch block, and AF in the population with FLD was higher than those without fatty liver, while the prevalence of premature beats was slightly lower. There were statistical differences in the prevalence of atrioventricular block and AF between the two groups (P < 0.001). For changes in cardiac structure and function, the prevalence of atrial enlargement, ventricular hypertrophy, and cardiac insufficiency was higher in the fatty liver group than in the non-fatty liver group, while the prevalence of valvular reflux was slightly lower. There were statistical differences in the prevalence of atrial enlargement and ventricular hypertrophy between the two groups (P < 0.001). Univariate Logistic regression analysis demonstrated FLD was linked with the occurrence of AF (OR 1.767, 95% CI 1.439-2.168). After adjusting for confounding factors by multivariate Logistic regression analysis, the correlation between FLD and AF remained statistically significant (OR 1.993, 95% CI 1.199-3.313).<i> Conclusions: </i>Compared with those without fatty liver, the prevalence of atrioventricular block, AF, atrial enlargement, and ventricular hypertrophy in patients with FLD was higher and the differences were statistically significant. FLD was an independent risk factor for AF, which remained true after adjusting for multiple confounding factors.