Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyDiagnostic or prognostic study
Sudden cardiac arrest in steatotic liver disease with metabolic dysfunction or increased alcohol intake
- Analysis of a random 40% sample of adults who underwent a national health screening
- diagnostic claim codes
Authors' conclusion
MASLD, MetALD, and ALD were each associated with higher SCA risk, with risk rising markedly in ALD. MetALD did not exceed MASLD in overall SCA risk, but demonstrated a disproportionate impact in younger adults.
Study context
- Population
- South Korean adults who underwent a national health screening in 2012individuals analysed (mean age 48.1 years, 46.1% female)
- Participants
- 4,420,306 adults
- Comparison
- MASLD, MetALD and ALD and their associations with sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)
- MASLDn = 451,990
- MetALDn = 81,289
- ALDn = 40,067
- Outcome
- SCA identified using diagnostic claim codes
- Follow-up
- Through December 2022
Performance
As reported in the abstract
Hazard ratio (95% CI)P value
ALDadjusted; highest risk
2.07(1.86–2.30)
P < 0.001MASLDadjusted
1.87(1.77–1.97)
P < 0.001MetALDadjusted
1.60(1.45–1.77)
P < 0.001- SCA occurred in 20,150 individuals
- 0.5%
Further findings
Association between MetALD and SCA by age (subgroup)
- Association between MetALD and SCA stronger in adults younger than 40 years
Original publication
Sudden cardiac arrest in steatotic liver disease with metabolic dysfunction or increased alcohol intake. Heart Rhythm. Published 24 March 2026. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.03.1916
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it