Nat Rev Cardiol. 2026 Feb 23. doi: 10.1038/s41569-026-01257-z. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) are increasingly prevalent, interrelated conditions driven by the global rise in obesity and metabolic syndrome. Once viewed in isolation, HFpEF and MASLD are now recognized as organ-specific manifestations of shared systemic metabolic dysfunction. Evidence from the past decade highlights not only overlapping risk factors but also a dynamic, bidirectional inter-organ crosstalk between the liver and the heart that shapes their natural history. In this Review, we explore the epidemiological and mechanistic basis of the MASLD-HFpEF connection, focusing on shared metabolic drivers such as lipotoxicity, meta-inflammation and oxidative stress. We also discuss emerging liver-derived mediators, including hepatokines, metabolites and extracellular vesicles, that influence cardiac structure and function. Finally, we highlight diagnostic and therapeutic strategies relevant to both conditions and propose a multiorgan framework to improve their clinical recognition and management. Understanding the liver-heart axis is key to rethinking cardiometabolic disease beyond organ silos and towards more integrated, mechanism-based approaches.
PMID:41735546 | DOI:10.1038/s41569-026-01257-z