已发表论文

代谢功能障碍相关脂肪性肝病(MASLD)与中年早期成年人颈动脉粥样硬化短期进展之间的关联

 

Authors Xiao W, Sun X , Lv H, Liu X, Zhu J

Received 10 October 2025

Accepted for publication 3 December 2025

Published 11 December 2025 Volume 2025:18 Pages 4535—4546

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S571705

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 2

Editor who approved publication: Professor Jae Woong Sull

Wenjing Xiao,1 Xinghe Sun,2 Hui Lv,3 Xiaohui Liu,2 Jihong Zhu1 

1Emergency Department of Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Cardiology, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 3Healthcare Management Center, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Jihong Zhu, Emergency Department of Peking University People’s hospital, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing, 100044, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8613801398755, Email ZhuJiHong64@sina.com Xiaohui Liu, Department of Cardiology, Peking University International Hospital, Life Park Road No. 1 Life Science Park of Zhong Guancun, Beijing, 102206, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8613651327758, Email liuxiaohui@pkuih.edu.cn

Background: The association between Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) and the development of new carotid plaque in young adults requires further evidence from prospective studies.
Methods:  In this study, young adults underwent abdominal and a carotid ultrasounds measurement were included. The carotid plaque progression was assessed in 2 years after baseline. MASLD is defined according to the liver ultrasound findings and self-reported alcohol consumption. Stepped adjusting multivariable logistic regression were employed to analyze the association between MASLD and the outcome. Subgroup analysis was conducted among sex and different amount of metabolic risk factors.
Results: A total of 36.54% (2411/6598) of all participants had MASLD at baseline. Among them, 626 (9.49%) participants were found new onset of carotid plaque in two years. Subjects who had progression of plaque had higher proportion of MASLD (53.99% vs 34.71%, SMD=0.396). Statistically significant positive associations were observed in unadjusted logistic regression models in overall or each sex, respectively. After fully adjustment, the association was only significant among female (OR:2.19, 95% CI: 1.28– 3.72) and those had no metabolic risk factor (OR:1.67,95% CI:1.01– 2.76). No significant associations were identified in all male subgroups, whereas the associations were still existing among female subgroups.
Conclusion: MASLD was found to be a risk factor of progression of carotid plaque among females and those who had not suffered from metabolic risk factor. Prevention should be focused on young adults who have MASLD at physical examination to reduce their risk of future atherosclerosis.

Keywords: MASLD, atherosclerosis, risk factor