Health related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)

Background Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease globally, with an estimated prevalence of approximately 30%. Although MASLD is often considered asymptomatic in its early stages, emerging research suggests the presence of subtle symptoms that may affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Patients and Methods This prospective study included 213 patients, of whom 68 had confirmed MASLD, and 145 were obese individuals exhibiting pathologically elevated liver enzymes. All participants completed three HRQoL questionnaires: the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ), and the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP).

Results Analysis of the HRQoL questionnaires revealed deviations from general population reference values. For the CLDQ, MASLD patients scored an overall average of 4.8±1.0, compared to a reference value of 5.9±1.1, with a pronounced discrepancy in the fatigue domain (3.6±1.4 vs. 5.4±1.3 in the reference group). Similar trends were noted in the NHP energy level, where MASLD patients scored 58.6±38.0, against a general population reference of 17.3±30.2.

Age-stratified analysis suggested a trend of declining CLDQ scores with advancing age. Gender-specific analysis within age-matched groups also indicated lower HRQoL scores for women over 40 in several questionnaire domains.

Conclusion These findings indicate that MASLD negatively impacts HRQoL, with physical symptoms more pronounced than psychological ones. Among the most prominent changes in HRQoL were fatigue symptoms measured by the CLDQ.

Publication History

Article published online:
20 January 2025