Higher liver stiffness in patients with chronic congestive heart failure: data from NHANES with liver ultrasound transient elastography.

BACKGROUND

Liver stiffness in patients with chronic congestive heart failure (CCHF) is poorly understood and liver ultrasound transient elastography (LUTE) is a new non-invasive method to detect this condition. In this cross-sectional study we explored liver stiffness and secondary congestive hepatopathy in patients with CCHF detected by LUTE.

METHODS

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2017-2018) were analyzed. All participants undergoing LUTE and without liver disease were included, among whom, 110 participants were diagnosed with CCHF. The cut-off values of stiffness for fibrosis and cirrhosis were above 7.65 and 13.01 kPa, respectively. Data regarding liver stiffness were compared between the participants with and without CCHF.

RESULTS

Among patients with CCHF, the median liver stiffness was 6.0 kPa, above 7.65 kPa in 32.7% of patients, and above 13.01 kPa in 14.6% of patients. The mean liver stiffness was 5.0 kPa in the control group and was significantly lower than that of patients with CCHF (P<0.001). The ratio of serum albumin/globulin (A/G) gradually decreased according to the liver stiffness of patients with CCHF (P=0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with CCHF had higher liver stiffness values than controls, nearly one-third had substantial fibrosis, and more than one in seven patients progressed to cirrhosis. The A/G ratio may be a potential biomarker for liver stiffness caused by CCHF.