The impact of stigma on quality of life and liver disease burden among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Background & Aims: Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) face a multifaceted disease burden which includes impaired health-related quality of life (HRQL) and potential stigmatization. We aimed to assess the burden of liver disease in patients with NAFLD and the relationship between experience of stigma and HRQL. Methods: Members of the Global NASH Council created a survey about disease burden in NAFLD. Participants completed a 35-item questionnaire to assess liver disease burden (LDB) (seven domains), the 36-item CLDQ-NASH (six domains) survey to assess HRQL and reported their experience with stigmatization and discrimination. Results: A total of 2,117 patients with NAFLD from 24 countries completed the LDB survey (48% Middle East and North Africa, 18% Europe, 16% USA, 18% Asia) and 778 competed CLDQ-NASH. Of the study group, 9% reported stigma due to NAFLD and 26% due to obesity. Participants who reported stigmatization due to NAFLD had substantially lower CLDQ-NASH scores (all p <0.0001). In multivariate analyses, experience with stigmatization or discrimination due to NAFLD was the strongest independent predictor of lower HRQL scores (beta from -5% to -8% of score range size, p <0.02). Experience with stigmatization due to obesity was associated with lower Activity, Emotional Health, Fatigue, and Worry domain scores, and being uncomfortable with the term “fatty liver disease” with lower Emotional Health scores (all p <0.05). In addition to stigma, the greatest disease burden as assessed by LDB was related to patients’ self-blame for their liver disease. Conclusions: Stigmatization of patients with NAFLD, whether it is caused by obesity or NAFLD, is strongly and independently associated with a substantial impairment of their HRQL. Self-blame is an important part of disease burden among patients with NAFLD. Impact and implications: Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), recently renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), may experience impaired health-related quality of life and stigmatization. Using a specifically designed survey, we found that stigmatization of patients with NAFLD, whether it is caused by obesity or the liver disease per se, is strongly and independently associated with a substantial impairment of their quality of life. Physicians treating patients with NAFLD should be aware of the profound implications of stigma, the high prevalence of self-blame in the context of this disease burden, and that providers’ perception may not adequately reflect patients’ perspective and experience with the disease

Long-term outcome following concomitant mitral valve surgery and Cox maze procedure for atrial fibrillation

Objective—Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased early and long-term morbidity/ mortality following valve surgery. This study examined long-term influence of concomitant full Cox maze (CM) and mitral valve procedures on freedom from atrial arrhythmia and stroke. Methods—This sample comprised patients who underwent CM with a mitral valve procedure (N = 473). Data on rhythm, medication status, and clinical events captured according to Heart Rhythm Society guidelines at 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months and yearly thereafter up to 7 years. Results—Mean age was 65 years, mean left atrium size was 5.3 cm, and 15% had paroxysmal AF. Perioperative stroke occurred in 2 patients (0.4%) and operative mortality was 2.7% (n = 13). Return to sinus rhythm regardless of antiarrhythmic drugs at 1, 5, and 7 years was 90%, 80%, and 66%. Sinus rhythm off antiarrhythmic drugs at 1, 5, and 7 years was 83%, 69%, and 55%. Freedom from embolic stroke at 7 years was 96.6% (0.4 strokes per 100 patient-years) with a majority of patients off anticoagulation medication. Greater odds of atrial arrhythmia recurrence during 7 years was associated with longer AF duration (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; P = .001), whereas lower odds were associated with cryothermal energy only (OR, 0.64; P = .045) and greater surgeon experience (OR, 0.98; P = .025). Conclusions—This study suggests that the addition of CM to mitral valve procedures, even with a high degree of complexity, did not increase operative risk. In long-term follow-up, the CM procedure demonstrated acceptable rhythm success, reduced AF burden, and remarkably low stroke rate. Individual surgeon experience and training may notably influence long-term surgical ablation for AF success

The use of del Nido cardioplegia in adult cardiac surgery: A prospective randomized trial

Objectives—The del Nido cardioplegia solution has been used extensively in congenital heart surgery for more than 20 years and more recently for adults. This randomized controlled trial examined whether expanding this technique to adult cardiac surgery confers benefits in surgical workflow and clinical outcome compared with blood-based cardioplegia. Methods—Adult first-time coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve, or CABG/valve surgery patients requiring cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were randomized to del Nido cardioplegia (n = 48) or whole blood cardioplegia (n = 41). Primary outcomes assessed myocardial preservation. Troponin I was measured at baseline, 2 hours after CPB termination, 12 and 24 hours after cardiovascular intensive care unit admission. Alpha was set at P \u3c .001. Results—Preoperative characteristics were similar between groups, including age, Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score, CABG, and valve procedures. There was no significant difference on CPB time (97 vs 103 minutes; P = .288) or cross-clamp time (70 vs 83 minutes; P = .018). The del Nido group showed higher return to spontaneous rhythm (97.7% vs 81.6%; P = .023) and fewer patients required inotropic support (65.1% vs 84.2%; P = .050), but did not reach statistical significance. Incidence of Society of Thoracic Surgeons-defined morbidity was low, with no strokes, myocardial infarctions, renal failure, or operative deaths. For del Nido group patients, troponin levels did not increase as much as for control patients (P = .040), but statistical significance was not reached. Conclusions—Evidence from this study suggests del Nido cardioplegia use in routine adult cases may be safe, result in comparable clinical outcomes, and streamline surgical workflow. The trend for troponin should be investigated further because it may suggest superior myocardial protection with the del Nido solution

Stigma is a Predictor of Impairment of Health Related Quality of Life among Patients with NAFLD

International audienc

The Global Survey of Disease Burden and Stigma in NAFLD

International audienc

The Global Survey of Disease Burden and Stigma in NAFLD

International audienc

Stigma is a Predictor of Impairment of Health Related Quality of Life among Patients with NAFLD

International audienc

Stigma is a Predictor of Impairment of Health Related Quality of Life among Patients with NAFLD

International audienc