Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Its Association With Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The commonest cause of hepatic illness globally is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This multisystemic disease affects extrahepatic organs, including the heart. It causes cardiac remodeling and a disruption of the systolic and diastolic functioning of the left ventricle. Numerous studies have investigated the connection between NAFLD and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD). The results, nevertheless, are often contradictory. This systematic review looked at the relationship between NAFLD and LVDD generally and among different patient groups since it is a topic of interest. A thorough search approach was used to locate relevant publications published between 2003 and 2023 using major medical databases. Studies were chosen based on the pre-established eligibility criteria; the studies selected then underwent a critical evaluation using standardized quality assessment tools. For the systematic review, 13 articles were chosen, comprising nine cross-sectional studies, three narrative reviews, and one meta-analysis. There were a total of 13,341 NAFLD patients in these studies. Data extraction and qualitative synthesis from the selected research articles were conducted to determine the relationship between NAFLD and LVDD in various patient categories. We found a significant association between NAFLD and LVDD. Therefore, patients with NAFLD should be treated early to avoid complications since they are more likely to develop cardiac dysfunction in the future.