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Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease is associated with severity of COVID-19

Yu-Jie Zhou1,2, Kenneth I Zheng1, Xiao-Bo Wang3

  • 1MAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.

Liver International : Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver
|June 24, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) significantly increases the risk of severe COVID-19 in patients under 60. This finding highlights the importance of considering MAFLD in COVID-19 patient management.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) impacts a quarter of the global population.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has garnered significant worldwide attention.
  • The relationship between MAFLD and COVID-19 severity remains under-characterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between MAFLD and the severity of COVID-19.
  • To determine if MAFLD influences clinical outcomes in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study design was employed.
  • Fifty-five MAFLD patients with COVID-19 were identified and matched 1:1 with non-MAFLD COVID-19 patients.
  • Matching criteria included age, sex, and obesity status.

Main Results:

  • MAFLD was associated with a fourfold increase in the probability of severe COVID-19 in patients under 60 years old (aOR 4.07, P = .02).
  • This association remained significant after adjusting for potential confounders.

Conclusions:

  • MAFLD is a significant risk factor for severe COVID-19 in non-elderly patients.
  • Healthcare providers should consider MAFLD status when assessing COVID-19 severity and managing patients.

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