Abstract
The new name and diagnostic criteria of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) was proposed in 2020. Although chronic HBV infection has protective effects on lipid profiles and hepatic steatosis, the impact of chronic HBV infection on clinical outcomes of MAFLD requires further investigation. The participants from a Taiwan bio-bank cohort were included. MAFLD is defined as the presence of hepatic steatosis plus any of the following three conditions: overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic dysfunction. The patients with positive glycated haemoglobin were considered as having chronic HBV infection. Atherosclerosis was determined as having carotid plaques on duplex ultrasound. Advanced liver fibrosis was defined as Fibrosis-4 >2.67. Based on the status of MAFLD and HBV infection, the participants were distributed into four groups: 'dual aetiology', 'MAFLD alone', 'HBV alone', and 'healthy controls'. A total of 20,460 participants (age 55.51 ± 10.37; males 32.67%) were included for final analysis. The prevalence of MAFLD and chronic HBV infections were 38.8% and 10.3%, respectively. According to univariate analysis, 'HBV alone' group had lower levels of glycated haemoglobin, lipid profiles, and intima media thickness than healthy controls. The 'dual aetiology' group had lower levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, γ-glutamyl transferase, intima media thickness, and percentage of carotid plaques than 'MAFLD alone' group. Using binary logistic regression, chronic HBV infection increased the overall risk of advanced liver fibrosis; and had a lower probability of carotid plaques in MAFLD patients, but not in those without MAFLD. The large population-based study revealed chronic HBV infection increases the overall risk of liver fibrosis, but protects from atherosclerosis in patients with MAFLD. Patients with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease can also be coinfected with chronic HBV. Concomitant HBV infection increases the overall risk of liver fibrosis, but protects from atherosclerosis in patients with MAFLD.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
