ReviewCureus2026
Association Between Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Subclinical Atherosclerosis Assessed by Carotid Intima-Media Thickness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Review in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is variably associated with subclinical atherosclerosis, measured using carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), although findings across studies remain inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between NAFLD and subclinical atherosclerosis, assessed by CIMT, and to explore possible sources of heterogeneity. A literature search covering almost 25 years (January 2000 to March 2026) was conducted. Included studies reported CIMT measurements in adults diagnosed with NAFLD using either liver biopsy or ultrasonography. A random-effects model was used to calculate pooled effect sizes using Hedges' g. Subgroup analyses were performed based on geographic region (Asia vs Europe) and diagnostic modality for NAFLD. Eight studies comprising 4,384 patients with NAFLD and 2,843 controls were included. The pooled effect size showed a significant increase in CIMT among patients with NAFLD (Hedges' g = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.42 to 1.17). Considerable heterogeneity was observed (I² = 94.13%). Studies using ultrasonography demonstrated a smaller effect size (Hedges' g = 0.66; p = 0.001) compared with those using liver biopsy (Hedges' g = 1.36). A borderline significant difference was observed between European populations (Hedges' g = 1.12) and Asian populations (Hedges' g = 0.64; p = 0.090). Publication bias was detected; however, after adjustment using the trim-and-fill method, the association remained significant (adjusted Hedges' g = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.36 to 0.88). Overall, NAFLD was significantly associated with increased CIMT, suggesting a higher burden of subclinical atherosclerosis in affected individuals. Future studies should employ standardized diagnostic criteria and uniform measurement protocols to reduce heterogeneity.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.