Prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and fibrosis defined by liver elastography in the United States using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-March 2020 and August 2021-August 2023 data.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Steatotic liver disease (SLD) is a significant public health burden. Previously, we estimated prepandemic SLD prevalence determined by transient elastography-assessed hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in the United States. We now estimate the prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and examine associations with lifestyle, socioeconomic, and other factors.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

Liver stiffness and controlled attenuation parameters were assessed on 13,538 non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic Asian, and Hispanic men and women aged 20 years and over in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017 to March 2020 and August 2021 to August 2023. The prevalence of SLD (controlled attenuation parameter >300 dB/m) was 28.7%, fibrosis (liver stiffness >8 kPa) was 11.3%, and MASLD was 25.6%. Between the 2 survey cycles, the age-standardized SLD prevalence was not significantly different, MASLD prevalence decreased (26.8%-23.6%), and fibrosis prevalence increased (10.4%-12.7%). In multivariable-adjusted analysis, both MASLD and fibrosis were associated with diabetes, higher body mass index, higher waist-to-hip ratio, elevated blood pressure, and inversely associated with non-Hispanic Black race-ethnicity. MASLD was also associated with male sex, non-Hispanic Asian race-ethnicity, prediabetes, higher total cholesterol, lower HDL cholesterol, and greater sedentary lifestyle. Fibrosis was also associated with SLD, lower total cholesterol, and less education.

CONCLUSIONS

In the US population, MASLD and fibrosis prevalence are high along with obesity and diabetes. Our findings suggest that early detection of chronic liver disease and targeting lifestyle and other modifiable risk factors may slow disease progression toward advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis.