Fatigue in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: Links to Muscle Function, Hypoxia, and...

Fatigue is the most common systemic manifestation of chronic liver diseases, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Fatigue not only adversely affects quality of life in MASLD patients but also complicates the attainment of therapeutic goals and contributes to a worse prognosis. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between clinically significant fatigue and laboratory parameters reflecting systemic inflammation, liver function, body composition, muscle strength, and blood pressure in patients with MASLD.

A total of 154 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of MASLD were enrolled in this study. All participants underwent anthropometric assessment, laboratory testing, abdominal ultrasonography, and point shear-wave elastography. Muscle strength was evaluated using handgrip strength (GS) measurement and the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (5TSTS). Skeletal muscle mass (SMM) was quantified using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Fatigue was evaluated using the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS), with scores ≥ 22 indicating clinically significant fatigue.

Patients with FAS scores ≥ 22 exhibited significantly lower hemoglobin levels (p = 0.004) and erythrocyte counts (p = 0.011), along with a significantly elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; p = 0.002) and C-reactive protein level (CRP; p = 0.007). Furthermore, MASLD patients with FAS scores ≥ 22 demonstrated significantly reduced relative grip strength (p = 0.012) and took longer to complete the 5TSTS (p = 0.011). Additionally, these patients had higher maximum systolic and diastolic blood pressure values compared to those with FAS scores < 22 (p = 0.028 and p = 0.019, respectively).

These findings underscore the multifactorial nature of fatigue in MASLD and highlight the need for a comprehensive management strategy. Such a strategy should include dietary modification, increased physical activity, targeted treatment of systemic manifestations of MASLD, and appropriate management of comorbidities.