Risk of acute coronary syndrome and peripheral arterial disease in chronic liver disease and cirrhosis: A nationwide population-based study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Until now, no study has investigated the risks of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in cirrhosis.

METHODS: In this study, 57,214 patients diagnosed with cirrhosis between 2000 and 2010 were identified from the Taiwan National Health Insurance claims data. Each patient was randomly selected and frequency-matched with an individual without cirrhosis by age, sex, and index year.

RESULTS: The overall incidence rates of ACS and PAD were 2.81 and 2.97 per 1000 person-years, respectively, in the cirrhosis cohort. The cirrhosis cohort had a higher risk of ACS [adjusted subhazard ratio (aSHR) = 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03-1.22] and PAD (aSHR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.02-1.21). The risk of ACS was highest among members of the cirrhosis cohort with ascites (aSHR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.11-1.19).

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with chronic liver disease and cirrhosis have higher risks of ACS and PAD than those without chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.