ABSTRACT
IMPORTANCE: The recent change in terminology from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) highlights the link between hepatic steatosis and metabolic dysfunction, taking out the stigmata of alcohol. OBJECTIVE: We compared the effects of NAFLD and MAFLD definitions on the risk of overall and cardiovascular (CV) mortality, liver-related events (LRE), nonfatal CV events (CVE), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and extra-hepatic cancers (EHC). DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION: We systematically searched four large electronic databases for cohort studies (published through August 2023) that simultaneously used NAFLD and MAFLD definitions for examining the risk of mortality and adverse CV, renal, or oncological outcomes associated with both definitions. In total, 21 eligible cohort studies were identified. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effects modelling. RESULTS: Compared with those with NAFLD, individuals with MAFLD had significantly higher rates of overall mortality (random-effect OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.04-1.21, p = .004) and CV mortality (random-effect OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.04-1.26, p = .004), and a marginal trend towards higher rates of developing CKD (random-effect OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.00-1.12, p = .058) and EHC events (random-effect OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.00-1.23, p = .052). We found no significant differences in the risk LREs and nonfatal CVE between MAFLD and NAFLD. Meta-regression analyses identified male sex and metabolic comorbidities as the strongest risk factors related to the risk of adverse clinical outcomes in MAFLD compared to NAFLD. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Individuals with MAFLD have higher rates of overall and CV mortality and higher rates of developing CKD and EHC events than those with NAFLD, possibly due to the dysmetabolic risk profile related to MAFLD.
ABSTRACT
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), with its steadily increasing prevalence, represents now a major problem in public health. A proper referral could benefit from tools allowing more precise risk stratification. To this end, in recent decades, several genetic variants that may help predict and refine the risk of development and progression of MASLD have been investigated. In this review, we aim to discuss the role genetics in MASLD plays in everyday clinical practice. We performed a comprehensive literature search of PubMed for relevant publications. Available evidence highlights the emergence of genetic-based noninvasive algorithms for diagnosing fatty liver, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, fibrosis progression and occurrence of liver-related outcomes including hepatocellular carcinoma. Nevertheless, their accuracy is not optimal and application in everyday clinical practice remains challenging. Furthermore, susceptible genetic markers have recently become subjects of great scientific interest as therapeutic targets in precision medicine. In conclusion, decisional algorithms based on genetic testing in MASLD to facilitate the clinician decisions on management and treatment are under growing investigation and could benefit from artificial intelligence methodology.