A research team at Yongin Severance Hospital found that the risk of developing ischemic heart disease significantly increases when the patient has early chronic kidney disease (CKD) accompanied by a fatty liver.

A CKD and fatty liver with a fat content of more than 5 percent are representative diseases with a prevalence of 13.4 and 25 percent, respectively. As CKD and fatty liver share risk factors such as high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes, it is easy for patients to develop both symptoms at once.

However, previous studies have focused on end-stage renal disease, and there is little information about the case of having early CKD and fatty liver.

The team, led by Professors Jung Dong-hyuk, Park Byung-jin, and Lee Sung-beom of the Department of Family Medicine, conducted a study to examine the risk of developing ischemic heart disease in patients with early CKD and fatty liver.

Based on data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service from 2006 to 2010, the team divided 16,531 adults over 20 years of age into four groups -- normal group, early CKD group, fatty liver group, and early CKD-fatty liver group -- and conducted a follow up for an average of 50 months.

The analysis showed that the group with early CKD and fatty liver had a 76 percent higher risk of developing ischemic heart disease than the normal group.

Also, after accumulating ischemic heart disease incidence, the group with early CKD and fatty liver showed a higher risk of developing ischemic heart disease than other groups throughout the follow-up period.

The researchers said the study is significant by confirming that early CKD and fatty liver could significantly increase the risk of ischemic heart disease.

As CKD and fatty liver are relatively common diseases, they are highly likely to occur simultaneously, which has significant implications for health management.

“Both CKD and fatty liver have difficulties in early detection. Even if there are no symptoms, it is necessary to manage them in daily life through a low-salt diet, exercise, smoking cessation, and adequate fluid intake,” Professor Jung said. “Also, regular checkups for proteinuria, kidney levels, liver ultrasound can effectively prevent related diseases.”