Commentary
The American Heart Association has defined ideal cardiovascular health based on seven risk factors (Life’s Simple 7 – LS7) that people can improve through lifestyle changes: smoking status, physical activity, weight, diet, blood glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure.
NAFLD is considered as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Oni Ebenezer et al. (Division of Cardiology, Heart and Vascular Institute, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) evaluated the association between LS7 and NAFLD in participants from The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort.
Cardiovascular health score was calculated from the Life’s simple 7 metrics. NAFLD was defined using non-contrast cardiac CT and a liver/spleen attenuation ratio (L/S) <1. The overall prevalence of NAFLD was 18% with a distribution of 7%, 14%, and 25% in the optimal, average, and inadequate score categories, respectively (p <0.001). Life’s simple 7 appears as independently associated with NAFLD in this population. This study reaffirms the relevance of the AHA’s 2020 strategic impact goals in promoting overall well-being. Focusing on the LS7 targets may be an appropriate prevention strategy for promoting hepatic health.