Frequency and risk factors of metabolic associated fatty liver disease among medical students in Egypt
Abstract Metabolic (dysfunction) associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a growing global concern. This study assessed the frequency of hepatic steatosis and MAFLD, alongside their associated risk factors, among medical students at Suez University, Egypt. A cross-sectional study was conducted from...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95753-w |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850146352920526848 |
|---|---|
| author | Mohamed M. Elhoseeny Fatma Rageh Samar M. Rezk Amira A. A. Othman |
| author_facet | Mohamed M. Elhoseeny Fatma Rageh Samar M. Rezk Amira A. A. Othman |
| author_sort | Mohamed M. Elhoseeny |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Metabolic (dysfunction) associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a growing global concern. This study assessed the frequency of hepatic steatosis and MAFLD, alongside their associated risk factors, among medical students at Suez University, Egypt. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2022 to April 2023 among 84 medical students aged ≥ 18 years. Data on anthropometric parameters, body composition, and lifestyle were collected through self-administered questionnaires, InBody analysis, and FibroScan. MAFLD diagnosis required steatosis (≥ 238 dB/m) with obesity, metabolic dysfunction, or both. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, ANOVA, and logistic regression. Hepatic steatosis was present in 25% of participants, while MAFLD frequency was 13.1%. Participants with MAFLD exhibited higher body weight (82.34 ± 10.78 kg vs. 65.84 ± 10.61 kg, p < 0.001), BMI (29.05 ± 3.66 vs. 22.90 ± 3.23 kg/m2, p < 0.001), waist circumference (88.73 ± 8.73 cm vs. 78.10 ± 7.96 cm, p < 0.001), BMR (1566.09 ± 27.37 vs. 1429.86 ± 93.44 kcal/day, p < 0.001), and fat mass (32.74 ± 7.25% vs. 23.91 ± 8.60%, p < 0.001). Binary regression analysis revealed increased body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and BMR as significant risk factors for MAFLD. An elevated fat mass percentage with a reduced muscle mass percentage highlighted the sarcopenic obesity role in MAFLD progression. Extreme weight reduction can exacerbate hepatic fat accumulation. Poor sleep quality, a sedentary lifestyle, and an unhealthy diet are also significant predictors. The widespread frequency of steatosis and MAFLD highlights the pressing need to tackle this silent epidemic among young Egyptian adults. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3ad2e34ddd1a4c14838571e93f755d2a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-3ad2e34ddd1a4c14838571e93f755d2a2025-08-20T02:27:52ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115112110.1038/s41598-025-95753-wFrequency and risk factors of metabolic associated fatty liver disease among medical students in EgyptMohamed M. Elhoseeny0Fatma Rageh1Samar M. Rezk2Amira A. A. Othman3Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez UniversityInfectious Diseases, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez UniversityClinical Nutrition Department, Mahalla Hepatology Teaching HospitalInternal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez UniversityAbstract Metabolic (dysfunction) associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a growing global concern. This study assessed the frequency of hepatic steatosis and MAFLD, alongside their associated risk factors, among medical students at Suez University, Egypt. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2022 to April 2023 among 84 medical students aged ≥ 18 years. Data on anthropometric parameters, body composition, and lifestyle were collected through self-administered questionnaires, InBody analysis, and FibroScan. MAFLD diagnosis required steatosis (≥ 238 dB/m) with obesity, metabolic dysfunction, or both. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, ANOVA, and logistic regression. Hepatic steatosis was present in 25% of participants, while MAFLD frequency was 13.1%. Participants with MAFLD exhibited higher body weight (82.34 ± 10.78 kg vs. 65.84 ± 10.61 kg, p < 0.001), BMI (29.05 ± 3.66 vs. 22.90 ± 3.23 kg/m2, p < 0.001), waist circumference (88.73 ± 8.73 cm vs. 78.10 ± 7.96 cm, p < 0.001), BMR (1566.09 ± 27.37 vs. 1429.86 ± 93.44 kcal/day, p < 0.001), and fat mass (32.74 ± 7.25% vs. 23.91 ± 8.60%, p < 0.001). Binary regression analysis revealed increased body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and BMR as significant risk factors for MAFLD. An elevated fat mass percentage with a reduced muscle mass percentage highlighted the sarcopenic obesity role in MAFLD progression. Extreme weight reduction can exacerbate hepatic fat accumulation. Poor sleep quality, a sedentary lifestyle, and an unhealthy diet are also significant predictors. The widespread frequency of steatosis and MAFLD highlights the pressing need to tackle this silent epidemic among young Egyptian adults.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95753-wFibroScan®InBody 270MAFLDNAFLDSteatosisTransient elastography |
| spellingShingle | Mohamed M. Elhoseeny Fatma Rageh Samar M. Rezk Amira A. A. Othman Frequency and risk factors of metabolic associated fatty liver disease among medical students in Egypt Scientific Reports FibroScan® InBody 270 MAFLD NAFLD Steatosis Transient elastography |
| title | Frequency and risk factors of metabolic associated fatty liver disease among medical students in Egypt |
| title_full | Frequency and risk factors of metabolic associated fatty liver disease among medical students in Egypt |
| title_fullStr | Frequency and risk factors of metabolic associated fatty liver disease among medical students in Egypt |
| title_full_unstemmed | Frequency and risk factors of metabolic associated fatty liver disease among medical students in Egypt |
| title_short | Frequency and risk factors of metabolic associated fatty liver disease among medical students in Egypt |
| title_sort | frequency and risk factors of metabolic associated fatty liver disease among medical students in egypt |
| topic | FibroScan® InBody 270 MAFLD NAFLD Steatosis Transient elastography |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95753-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mohamedmelhoseeny frequencyandriskfactorsofmetabolicassociatedfattyliverdiseaseamongmedicalstudentsinegypt AT fatmarageh frequencyandriskfactorsofmetabolicassociatedfattyliverdiseaseamongmedicalstudentsinegypt AT samarmrezk frequencyandriskfactorsofmetabolicassociatedfattyliverdiseaseamongmedicalstudentsinegypt AT amiraaaothman frequencyandriskfactorsofmetabolicassociatedfattyliverdiseaseamongmedicalstudentsinegypt |