Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Steatotic liver disease phenotypes and stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation: A nationwide population-based cohort study
Authors' conclusion
In patients with AF, stroke risk was significantly higher in the alcohol-related SLD phenotypes, MetALD and ALD, whereas MASLD was not associated with stroke risk. These findings are consistent with the current recommendations for comprehensive risk-factor management in AF, with particular attention to alcohol intake in patients with alcohol-related SLD phenotypes.
Study context
- Population
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2018, Korean health insurance databasemedian follow-up 5.9 years · No-SLD 101,308 · MASLD 77,715 · MetALD 8,678 · ALD 8,541
- Participants
- 196,242 patients
- Exposure
- Steatotic liver disease (SLD) phenotypes compared with No-SLD
- No-SLDn = 101,308reference
- MASLDn = 77,715
- MetALDn = 8,678
- ALDn = 8,541
- Outcome
- Ischemic stroke
- Follow-up
- Median 5.9 years
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Ischemic stroke
Each group vs No-SLDAdjusted hazard ratio (95% CI)
MASLD
1.00(0.97–1.04)
MetALD
1.09(1.00–1.18)
ALD
1.16(1.08–1.26)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Ischemic stroke by CHA2DS2-VA score (exploratory subgroup) · 6-year
- 6-year absolute risk differences
- ≈1% or less
- Higher risk associated with alcohol-related phenotypes appeared more apparent at lower CHA2DS2-VA scores
- Exploratory
- Hypothesis-generating
Original publication
Steatotic liver disease phenotypes and stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation: A nationwide population-based cohort study. Heart Rhythm. Published 16 October 2026. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it