Steatotic Liver Disease: A Key Related Risk Factor in the Emergence of Metabolic Syndrome-Related Disorders

Steatotic liver disease (SLD) is a hepatic phenotype of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, little is known about the relationship between SLD and the onset of each MetS-related disease (type 2 diabetes [T2D], hypertension, and dyslipidemia). In this study, we examined the relationship between the onset of MetS-related diseases and SLD using health checkup data at baseline and 7 years later.

A total of 2167 individuals who underwent a health examination were initially recruited to the study. After excluding cases with a history of hepatic disease, a total of 714 subjects were selected and received an abdominal ultrasound test at baseline and again 7 years later. New-onset cases were defined as subjects who were free of each disease at baseline but developed one by the 7-year follow-up. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios and quantify the impact of SLD on the development of MetS-related diseases.

We found the following results: (1) SLD at baseline is an independent risk factor for the incidence of MetS-related disease 7 years later. (2) T2D and hypertension are not independent risk factors for the incidence of SLD 7 years later. Dyslipidemia and obesity are independent risk factors for the incidence of SLD. Obesity is the only independent risk factor for the new development of SLD within 7 years. (3) No individual MetS-related disease is an independent risk factor for the development of SLD.

The presence of SLD is more associated with the incidence of MetS-related diseases than obesity.