Publication Date
2-1-2025
Journal
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DOI
10.1016/j.ijcha.2025.101602
PMID
39867850
PMCID
PMC11759637
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
1-6-2025
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
Sudden cardiac death, Fatty liver disease, Coronary artery disease, Healthcare disparities
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Fatty liver disease or steatotic liver disease (SLD) affects 25% of the global population and has been associated with heart disease. However, there is a lack of postmortem studies in the context of sudden cardiac death (SCD).
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between SLD and SCD.
METHODS: A post-mortem case-case study was conducted in victims of SCD from an ongoing community-based study in Southern California (Ventura, CA, 2015-2023). Diagnosis of SLD was determined from post-mortem liver histopathology reports. For each patient, demographic variables, laboratory values, and presence of co-morbidities were ascertained from medical records and were compared between patients with and without SLD.
RESULTS: Of 162 individuals with SCD, there were 101 SLD cases and 61 without SLD. Individuals with SLD were found to have higher BMI (31.6 ± 7.6 vs. 26.7 ± 5.7, p < 0.001), higher prevalence of heavy drinking (28 % vs. 12 %, p = 0.008), heavier liver weights (2433.6 g ± 940.6 vs 1934.7 g ± 505.3, p < 0.001), and were more often Hispanic (37 vs. 18 %, p = 0.01). Patients with SLD had lower prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) (49 % vs. 70 %). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that CAD was a negative predictor of SCD with SLD (OR = 0.35, 95 % CI 0.14 - 0.83).
CONCLUSION: Among adults with SCD, SLD was associated with higher prevalence of Hispanic ethnicity and lower prevalence of CAD. Given the major rise in SLD burden, these ethnicity-based differences as well as the specific nature of non-ischemic SCD etiologies warrant urgent further investigation.
Included in
Cardiology Commons, Cardiovascular Diseases Commons, Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities Commons, Hepatology Commons, Medical Sciences Commons, Pediatrics Commons
