MASLD and Hepatitis B Outcomes
A long-term study of adults with chronic hepatitis B found that concurrent metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and extrahepatic cancers. The findings suggest that even mild liver involvement or normal enzyme levels do not necessarily mitigate these systemic health risks.
Why it matters
The study underscores the importance of monitoring metabolic health in patients with chronic viral infections to prevent long-term cardiovascular and oncological complications.
MASLD in chronic hepatitis B was associated with higher cardiovascular and extrahepatic cancer risks over 13.7 years.
The population-based cohort study included 3,269 adults with chronic hepatitis B virus infection from northern China. Researchers examined whether concurrent metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease influenced the development of primary liver cancer, extrahepatic cancers, and cardiovascular disease.
At baseline, 26.5% of participants had MASLD. These individuals were more likely to be overweight and have hypertension, prediabetes, or Type 2 diabetes than participants without MASLD.
After adjustment for lifestyle, metabolic, inflammatory, and liver related variables, MASLD was associated with a 98% higher risk of cardiovascular disease and a 50% higher risk of extrahepatic cancers. Cardiovascular outcomes included myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and hemorrhagic stroke.
The 12-year cumulative incidence of cardiovascular disease was 9.4% among participants with MASLD, compared with 4.9% among those without MASLD.
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