NAFLD, Cardiovascular Risk and Atherosclerosis

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) often anticipates many years the onset of metabolic syndrome-associated alterations including hypertension, type 2 diabetes and atherogenic dyslipidemia. Thus, NAFLD should be known by clinicians and general practitioners since, once diagnosed, patients should undergo extensive assessment for cardiovascular risk and receive indications about lifestyle changes for the prevention of the early onset of alterations related to cardiovascular risk. The suggested diagnostic algorithm includes the easiest and widely available investigations, to reduce health care costs and to allow an effective approach even in not particularly complex and specialized clinical contexts.