MASLD Is Associated With Decreased General Health Perception, Quality of Life and Work Productivity in a Low Fibrosis Population.

Individuals with steatosis had significantly higher BMI and increased liver stiffness compared to those without steatosis.

• BMI was 30.5 kg/m2 in the steatosis group versus 25.5 kg/m2 in those without steatosis (p < 0.001)
• Liver stiffness was 5.7 kPa in the steatosis group versus 4.6 kPa in those without steatosis (p < 0.001)
• Steatosis was defined as CAP > 275 dB/m measured by vibration-controlled transient elastography
• Of 311 participants, 142 (45.7%) had steatosis and 15 (4.7%) had fibrosis (liver stiffness > 12 kPa)

Individuals with steatosis had lower general health scores and reduced physical functioning compared to those without steatosis.

• General health scores (SF-36) were significantly lower in the steatosis group (p < 0.001)
• Physical functioning (SF-36) was significantly lower in the steatosis group (p = 0.024)
• Three cohort studies were conducted in Belgian and Dutch primary care and a Belgian hospital setting

No significant differences in depression or anxiety were found between individuals with and without steatosis.

• No significant difference was found for depression as measured by PHQ-9 (p = 0.955)
• No significant difference was found for anxiety as measured by GAD-7 (p = 0.557)
• This finding held in a cohort with low fibrosis prevalence (only 4.7% with fibrosis)

Absenteeism was more prevalent in the steatosis group, though reasons for absenteeism were mostly unrelated to steatosis.

• Absenteeism was significantly more prevalent in the steatosis group (p = 0.016) as measured by WPAI-SHP
• The reasons for absenteeism were mostly unrelated to steatosis
• The authors noted further investigation is needed to determine whether a potential relationship between work productivity and steatosis exists

Higher CAP values were negatively correlated with multiple SF-36 domains including physical functioning, energy/fatigue, and general health across the total cohort.

• Higher CAP values were negatively correlated with physical functioning (r = -0.193, p < 0.001)
• Higher CAP values were negatively correlated with energy/fatigue (r = -0.112, p = 0.049)
• Higher CAP values were negatively correlated with general health (r = -0.235, p < 0.001)
• Spearman correlation was used for data analysis

Previous research on quality of life in MASLD has focused on advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis, leaving data scarce for low fibrosis prevalence populations.

• This study examined associations between steatosis and general and mental health, as well as productivity specifically in primary care and a diabetes population
• The study population included participants from Belgian and Dutch primary care and a Belgian hospital
• The cohort had a low fibrosis prevalence of only 4.7% (15 of 311 participants)