Fig. 4

Putative shared pathophysiological mechanisms in MAFLD and CVD. MAFLD is closely associated with metabolic dysfunction and typical features of the metabolic syndrome. These metabolic risk abnormalities include visceral adipose tissue deposition, systemic low-grade inflammation, increased activity of RAAS systems, enhanced oxidative stress and insulin resistance. These metabolic risk abnormalities induce progression of coronary atherosclerosis, including vascular inflammation, lipids deposition, vascular remodeling, endothelial injury, as well as hypercoagulability, thereby contributing to increased risk of CVD. CVD cardiovascular disease, MAFLD metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease, RAAS renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system