The association between Life's Essential 8 cardiovascular health metrics and mortality outcomes for individuals suffering from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has gained increased attention as part of recent health analyses. The American Heart Association has recently updated its cardiovascular health (CVH) assessment tool, referred to as Life’s Essential 8 (LE8). Given the rising prevalence of MASLD, which is now recognized as the most common chronic liver disease globally, researchers aimed to explore the potential link between LE8 and mortality rates associated with this condition.
According to data analyzed from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning from 2005 to 2018, the study included 10,050 individuals diagnosed with MASLD. The researchers sought to understand how variations in the LE8 scores—which incorporate both health behaviors and health factors—correlate with both all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates.
Findings from the study indicated significant insights. Each one-point increase in the LE8 score corresponds to a 2.7% decrease in the risk of all-cause mortality for people living with MASLD. The researchers discovered even more pronounced outcomes for cardiovascular disease and cancer-related mortality, with reductions of 2.7% and 1.6%, respectively. Since people with MASLD typically face elevated risks of cardiovascular issues, this correlation to mortality outcomes sheds light on the potential benefits of adhering to higher cardiovascular health standards.
According to the findings, participants with low cardiovascular health (CVH) demonstrated markedly higher mortality outcomes compared to those classified within the moderate and high CVH categories. The study defined low CVH as scores ranging from 0 to 49, moderate from 50 to 79, and high from 80 to 100 on the LE8 scale.
"Maintaining moderate or high cardiovascular health was associated with significantly lower mortality compared to low cardiovascular health," the authors stated. This conclusion highlights the urgent need for preventive measures targeting cardiovascular health among this patient population.
The rising incidence of MASLD, affecting about one in three adults across the U.S., emphasizes the importance of addressing this condition from both medical and lifestyle perspectives. The condition is characterized by hepatic steatosis alongside risk factors like obesity and elevated blood glucose levels, which can lead to severe liver and heart complications over time.
The research utilized comprehensive methods to evaluate LE8 scores, with health behaviors assessed through self-reports and health factors derived from laboratory results. These metrics included measurements such as blood pressure, blood glucose, and lipid profiles—important indicators of overall cardiovascular health.
Given the intricacies involved, the study also examined the impact of race and income levels on the association between LE8 scores and mortality. The findings showed significant disparities. Notably, non-Hispanic Black and lower-income individuals exhibited pronounced associations between elevated LE8 scores and reduced all-cause mortality rates.
The resultant data reinforces the relevance of integrating lifestyle modifications aimed at improving cardiovascular health among those with MASLD. Continued public health efforts to promote optimal cardiovascular health may reduce excess mortality and improve overall health outcomes for this demographic.
Future research directions will look not just at the LE8 metrics but also at how public health initiatives can be effectively implemented to increase awareness among vulnerable populations about the link between cardiovascular health and liver disease outcomes.
The conclusions drawn from this study localize the importance of lifestyle choices within the clinical management of MASLD, advocating for patients to focus on maintaining optimal cardiovascular health to mitigate their overall risk of mortality.
