24 Missed Opportunities for Hbv Screening: Results of a Large Screening Campaign in the Community, France 2011

23 NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE IS A PREDICTOR OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES M. Stepanova, Z.M. Younossi. Betty and Guy Beatty Center for Integrated Research, Inova Health System, Center for Liver Diseases and Department of Medicine, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA, USA E-mail: zobair.younossi@inova.org Background and Aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardio-vascular diseases (CVD) are manifestations of metabolic syndrome. Although reported from tertiary clinical setting, the association of NAFLD with cardio-vascular diseases, at the population level, remains unclear. Methods: We used Nutrition Examination Survey III (NHANES III) conducted between 1988 and 1994 with available hepatic ultrasound data. Participants were classified into those with NAFLD (moderate or severe hepatic steatosis on the ultrasound without any evidence of other liver disease) and non-NAFLD controls (absence of NAFLD and other chronic liver diseases). For the purpose of this study, we defined CVD as self-reported history of congestive heart failure (CHF), stroke, angina or myocardial infarction (MI). Furthermore, family history of CVD was defined as history of MI before the age of 50 in a parent or a sibling. The prevalence of CVD was compared between those with and without NAFLD and NAFLD subgroups (based on liver enzymes). Independent predictors of was studied as well. Results: Of all eligible adult NHANES III participants, 2,492 individuals (18.77±0.76%) fulfilled our study criteria for NAFLD (described above) and of those, 426 (15.86±1.15%) had elevated liver enzymes. Regardless of elevation of liver enzymes, individuals with NAFLD were older, predominantly male, more likely Hispanic and less likely African-American (all p-values 30 (%): 47.56±1.85 vs. 17.10±0.75, p 3.0) (%): 54.80±1.70 vs.16.46±0.83, p < 0.05] and CVD (38.18±1.68 vs. 29.26±0.88, p< 0.05). Furthermore, regardless of liver enzymes, NAFLD was found to be independently associated with CVD after adjustment for major demographic, clinical and metabolic confounders [OR=1.23 (1.04–1.44)]. Conclusion: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is independently associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.