The Spectrum and Impact of Metabolic Dysfunction in MAFLD: A Longitudinal Cohort Analysis of 32,683 Overweight and Obese Individuals

Kai En Chan, Cheng Han Ng, Clarissa Elysia Fu, Jingxuan Quek, Gwyneth Kong, Yi Jie Goh, Rebecca Wenling Zeng, Michael Tseng, Manik Aggarwal, Benjamin Nah, Douglas Chee, Zhen Yu Wong, Sitong Zhang, Jiong Wei Wang, Nicholas W.S. Chew, Yock Young Dan, Mohammad Shadab Siddiqui, Mazen Noureddin, Arun J. Sanyal, Mark Muthiah

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) was recently proposed as an alternative name change for better encapsulation of disease. However, there exists a spectrum of MAFLD where both metabolically healthy (MH) and metabolically unhealthy (MU) individuals are included. In view of limited evidence, we sought to examine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and differences in outcomes of MH-MAFLD at the population level.

METHODS: Data were used from the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999 to 2018. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to obtain odds ratios for the estimation of events. Survival analysis was conducted with Cox regression and the Fine-Gray subdistribution model.

RESULTS: There were 32,683 overweight and obese individuals included in the analysis. In MAFLD patients, the prevalence of MH-MAFLD was 6.92% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.58%-7.27%), and 93.08% (95% CI, 92.73%-93.42%) were considered as MU-MAFLD. Multivariate analysis found a significantly higher risk of MACE (odds ratio, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.28-1.49; P < .01), all-cause (hazard ratio, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.17-1.32; P < .01), cardiovascular disease (SHR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.02-1.42; P = .03), and cancer mortality (SHR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.07-1.44; P < .01) in MU-MAFLD relative to non-MAFLD. However, MH-MAFLD individuals were not associated with a statistically significant increased risk of these adverse outcomes compared with non-MAFLD. MU-MAFLD diabetics were also at a higher risk of adverse events compared with non-diabetics.

CONCLUSIONS: This study reports on the heterogeneity and spectrum of metabolic dysfunction that exists in overweight and obese MAFLD. Although MAFLD may potentially be advantageous in improving awareness and patient outcomes, there remains substantial heterogeneity within patients included in MAFLD on the basis of the underlying metabolic burden.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2560-2569.e15
JournalClinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Volume21
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2023

Keywords

  • Adverse Outcomes
  • All-Cause Mortality
  • Metabolic Diseases
  • Metabolic-associated Fatty Liver Disease
  • Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
  • Overweight/complications
  • Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Nutrition Surveys
  • Humans
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
  • Obesity/complications
  • Health Status

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Gastroenterology
  • Hepatology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Spectrum and Impact of Metabolic Dysfunction in MAFLD: A Longitudinal Cohort Analysis of 32,683 Overweight and Obese Individuals'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this