Metabolic syndrome is associated with significant hepatic fibrosis and steatosis in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), an inflammatory form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, can progress to advanced liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) parallels the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/NASH and increases patients’ risk of advanced liver disease. This study aimed to determine whether MetS was associated with the histological progression of NASH.

Patients with liver biopsy-proven NASH were retrospectively screened and categorized into two groups for each histological feature: with (<2 points) or without (≥2 points) significant hepatic steatosis/inflammation/fibrosis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore the association between MetS and histological features.

In total, 386 patients with a median age of 33.0 years were enrolled; among them, 35.2% were female, and 41.2% had MetS. The proportion of significant hepatic fibrosis and steatosis in those with MetS was significantly higher than in those without MetS (p < 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that MetS remained significantly associated with significant hepatic fibrosis (adjusted odds ratio: 1.852, 95% confidence interval: 1.042–3.292, p = 0.036), and severe hepatic steatosis (adjusted odds ratio: 2.008, 95% confidence interval: 1.030–3.914, p = 0.041).

MetS was associated with significant hepatic fibrosis and steatosis in patients with NASH. Our results suggest that NASH patients with MetS should be closely monitored and given targeted intervention and treatment, which may help to prevent disease progression and mitigate the growing burden of NASH.