Metabolic syndrome traits differentially and cumulatively influence micro- and macrovascular disease risk in patients with MASLD.

INTRODUCTION

The cumulative impact of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components on micro- and macrovascular disease in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is unclear. We aimed to determine whether the number of the MetS components increases the risk of micro- and macrovascular disease in patients with MASLD.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study of electronic medical records using the TriNetX network, a global federated database. The exposure arm was patients with hepatic steatosis (defined via International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision coding, or modified hepatic steatosis index), and ≥1 MetS components (obesity/central adiposity, insulin resistance, hypertension, or dyslipidaemia), compared with a reference arm of adults without any MetS components or hepatic steatosis. Our propensity score matched (1:1) for confounders with 5 years of follow-up. Primary outcomes included microvascular (peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy) and macrovascular (cardiovascular events, cerebrovascular accidents, and peripheral vascular disease) disease. Secondary analyses assessed the impact of additional MetS components on these outcomes, as well as the impact of sex.

RESULTS

MASLD, defined by hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance (n = 15 937), carried the highest risk of microvascular disease (HR 13.93 (95% CI 8.55-22.68)), whilst MASLD, defined by hepatic steatosis and hypertension (n = 53 028), carried the highest risk of macrovascular disease (7.23 (6.45-8.13)). MASLD with all MetS components carried greatest risk of both micro- (31.20 (28.88-33.70) (n = 462 789)) and macrovascular (8.04 (7.33-8.82) (n = 336 010)) disease.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrate a differential effect of MetS components on micro- and macrovascular disease risk in patients with MASLD, with a cumulative impact of multiple MetS on overall risk. The impact of MetS components was most pronounced in women. Aggressive metabolic risk factor management is critical for prevention of micro- and macrovascular complications.