P2978 - Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Among Lean US Adults

Sarpong Boateng, MD, MPH¹, Prince A. Ameyaw, MD¹, Yazan Al-Ajlouni, MD², Nkafu Bechem Ndemazie, MD, MPH, Ph.D³, Basile Njei, MD^4
1Yale New Haven Health, Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport, CT; ²Staten Island University Hospital, Northwell Health, New York, NY; ³Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island, NY; ⁴Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT

Introduction: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is an emerging public health issue with observed disparities across racial, ethnic, and gender groups. This study aims to determine the prevalence of MASLD among lean individuals by gender and various racial and ethnic groups using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2020.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was performed using NHANES 2017-2020 data. Lean individuals were defined using body mass index (BMI) thresholds: BMI < 23 for non-Hispanic Asians and BMI < 25 for other ethnicities. We excluded individuals with history of chronic or active viral hepatitis, significant alcohol use. Survey-weighted logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between MASLD status and gender, race, and ethnicity, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and medical history.

Results: Among 1,707 lean participants, the mean age was 44.4 ± 19.95 years, with 47.9% being male. Non-Hispanic Whites comprised 39.2% of the sample, followed by Non-Hispanic Blacks (25.2%), Mexican Americans (16.9%), Non-Mexican Hispanics (8.4%), Non-Hispanic Asians (13.1%), and Other Races (5.7%). No significant difference in MASLD prevalence was found between genders (OR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.34-1.55, p = 0.368). However, after adjusting for age, education, smoking, physical activity, hypertension and depression, significant racial and ethnic disparities were observed. Non-Hispanic Asians had significantly higher odds of lean MASLD compared to non-Hispanic Whites (OR = 3.35, 95% CI: 1.51-7.43, p = 0.007). Pairwise comparisons revealed that Non-Hispanic Asians had higher odds of MASLD compared to Non-Mexican Hispanics (OR = 3.84, 95% CI: 1.71-8.60, p = 0.003), Non-Hispanic Blacks (OR = 10.19, 95% CI: 2.66-39.00, p = 0.002), and Other Races (OR = 7.38, 95% CI: 1.99-27.48, p = 0.010).

Discussion: This study highlights significant racial and ethnic disparities in MASLD prevalence among lean individuals in the United States, with non-Hispanic Asians being particularly affected. These findings emphasize the need for targeted public health interventions to address these disparities and improve liver health outcomes across all populations, including racial/ethnic minorites



Disclosures:


Sarpong Boateng, MD, MPH¹, Prince A. Ameyaw, MD¹, Yazan Al-Ajlouni, MD², Nkafu Bechem Ndemazie, MD, MPH, Ph.D³, Basile Njei, MD⁴. P2978 - Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Among Lean US Adults, ACG 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. Philadelphia, PA: American College of Gastroenterology.