CHARACTERISTICS OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN PATIENTS WITH METABOLIC DYSFUNCTION–ASSOCIATED FATTY LIVER DISEASE ACCORDING TO OBESITY STATUS

Abstract

This study compared cardiovascular risk profiles in 128 patients with metabolic dysfunction–associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), stratified by obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m², n = 68) or lean phenotype (BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m², n = 60). All participants underwent anthropometric assessment, fasting biochemistry (HOMA-IR, lipid panel, hs-CRP, IL-6), endothelial markers (nitric oxide metabolites, endothelin-1), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurement, and 10-year risk estimation (FRS, SCORE, ASCVD). Obese MAFLD patients exhibited significantly higher insulin resistance, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, CIMT, and elevated risk scores. However, 18 % of lean MAFLD individuals also had FRS ≥ 10 % and 23 % showed CIMT ≥ 0.9 mm, indicating “hidden” cardiovascular risk. Findings underscore the necessity of comprehensive risk assessment beyond BMI in all MAFLD patients.