Relation of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease with Acute Ischemic Stroke and Its Impact on Stroke Severity

Abstract

Background: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Several modifiable and non-modifiable factors are established as risk factors for stroke. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease but little is known about

Objective: Its relationship with ischemic stroke. Considering this, it is important to identify the relation between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and ischemic stroke, which would be helpful to stratify the risk of stroke. Methods: The current cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at the Department of Neurology and Medicine, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. One hundred and twenty patients with first ever acute ischemic stroke and equal number of apparently healthy controls were included in the study. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography by a consultant radiologist. National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to asses stroke severity at admission.

Results: In this study mean (±SD) age of the stroke patients was 59.94 (±11.41) years and 62.50% were male. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was found in 50 (41.7%) of stroke patients and in 31 (25.8%) of the control group and difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was found as a predictor of poor outcome of ischemic stroke with OR: 2.051; 95% CI (1.187-3.542), P=0.010. Mean NIHSS score was 11.76±5.96 in patients with NAFLD and 8.31±5.57 in patients without NAFLD (p value was <0.05). It was revealed that NAFLD and the NIHSS score had a statistically significant positive relation.

Conclusion: The study revealed that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease related with severe acute ischemic stroke and patients with NAFLD have more severe stroke.