Acute cardiac care & resuscitation
Fatty liver index increases the risk of sudden cardiac arrest in cardiovascular disease–free adults
Authors' conclusion
This large prospective study demonstrates that MASLD, indicated by higher FLI, is an independent risk factor for SCA.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank participants without baseline CVD1,843 incident sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) events
- Participants
- 347,925 participants
- Exposure
- Higher fatty liver index (FLI) categories vs FLI <30
- Outcome
- Incident sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)
- Follow-up
- 14.1 years
Methodological detailsUK Biobank
- UK Biobank
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Incident SCA (fully adjusted Cox model)
Group 1
2.15 per 10,000 person-years
Group 4
7.17 per 10,000 person-years
Each group vs group 1Hazard ratio (95% CI)
Group 2
1.13(0.99–1.30)
Group 3
1.21(1.06–1.39)
Group 4
1.57(1.34–1.84)
- SCA incidence increased across FLI groups (P for trend)
- P for trend < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
SCA incidence by number of cardiometabolic comorbidities (FLI ≥30)
- SCA incidence increased exponentially with each additional cardiometabolic comorbidity
Sensitivity and competing-risk (Fine-Gray) analyses
- Association persisted in sensitivity analyses and after accounting for competing risks
Original publication
Fatty liver index increases the risk of sudden cardiac arrest in cardiovascular disease–free adults. Heart Rhythm. Published 19 December 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →