RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ADVANCED LIVER FIBROSIS IN PATIENTS WITH MASLD AT A PRIVATE CLINIC IN PERU

Introduction and Objectives

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. In South America, its prevalence reaches 35.7% in the general population and up to 68% among individuals with risk factors such as obesity or diabetes mellitus. Identifying factors associated with advanced fibrosis enables early detection and improved clinical management. This study aimed to evaluate clinical factors associated with advanced fibrosis in patients with MASLD.

Materials and Methods

A cross-sectional observational study of 181 adults with MASLD. The risk factors assessed were obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. Advanced fibrosis was defined as stage F3–F4 by transient elastography (FibroScan). Bivariate analysis was performed using the Chi-square test, and independent risk factors were identified through binary logistic regression. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 with a 95% confidence level.

Results

The mean age was 50.5 ± 12.3 years. Dyslipidemia was the most frequent risk factor (57.5%), followed by obesity (44.8%). In the bivariate analysis, obesity and diabetes mellitus were significantly associated with advanced fibrosis (p < 0.001 and p = 0.017, respectively). However, in the multivariate analysis, only obesity remained an independent risk factor (OR = 7.2; 95% CI: 2.2–23.0; p = 0.001). Other variables lost statistical significance after adjustment. Diabetes mellitus may not be significant due to limited sample size, consistent with existing evidence

Conclusions

Although both obesity and diabetes mellitus were associated with advanced fibrosis, only obesity remained independently significant. These findings highlight the importance of weight management to prevent fibrosis progression in MASLD patients.

Conflict of interest: None

Clinical factors associated with advanced fibrosis in patients with MASLD (n=181)

Variable	Bivariate p-value	Multivariate OR (IC 95%)	Multivariate P-valor
Obesity	<0,001	7.2 (2.2-23.0)	0,001
Dyslipidemia	0,726	0,4 (0,1-1,2)	0,125
Diabetes Mellitus	0,017	2,9 (0,9-9,0)	0,054
Hypertension	0,387	1,07 (0,3-2,9)	0,894

Note: OR= Odds Ratio; CI= Confidence interval.