Lipids & metabolic liver disease
Recent prevalence and trends of obesity and metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) among US adolescents: 1999 to 2020
Authors' conclusion
The study underscores the pressing need to screen at-risk adolescents for metabolic issues associated with steatotic liver diseases, given the rising obesity rates among adolescents. The high overlap between MASLD and NAFLD diagnoses indicates that the transition from NAFLD to MASLD can be effectively integrated into paediatric practice.
Study context
- Population
- US adolescents aged 12–17, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999 to 2020
- Outcome
- Prevalence and trends of obesity and MASLD
- Follow-up
- 2017 to 2020; trends 1999 to 2020
Methodological detailsrepeated cross-sectional NHANES data, screening model based on FibroScan controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), New screening model developed from FibroScan CAP scores, body measurements and blood chemistry (2017 to 2020) to analyse MASLD trends 1999 to 2020
- Repeated cross-sectional NHANES data
- Screening model based on FibroScan CAP
- New screening model developed from FibroScan CAP scores, body measurements and blood chemistry (2017 to 2020) to analyse MASLD trends 1999 to 2020
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Prevalence of obesity and MASLD
≈20%
Obese adolescents affected by MASLD
about 70%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Overlap of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and MASLD
- NAFLD cases also meeting MASLD criteria
- 97.2%
Distribution of MASLD by sex and ethnicity
- More common in boys, particularly Mexican American adolescents
Characteristics of adolescents with MASLD
- Significantly higher body weight, waist circumference, TG and alanine transaminase (ALT); lower HDL-C; increased risk of liver fibrosis
Risk factors for MASLD
- Insufficient physical activity and poor diet quality were key risk factors
Original publication
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →