Prevalence of MAFLD in the U.S. based on NHANES 2009–2018: differences in demographic characteristics, physical indices and lifestyle conditions

Abstract Background The incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is high among U.S. adults, but studies on its occurrence in different ethnic and age groups are limited. The aim of the present study was to assess MAFLD occurrence among the U.S. adults by considering...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dan Ye, Jiaofeng Wang, Jiaheng Shi, Yiming Ma, Yanglei Li, Qingshang Li, Xiaona Hu, Jie Chen, Zhijun Bao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Gastroenterology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03956-2
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850042401354153984
author Dan Ye
Jiaofeng Wang
Jiaheng Shi
Yiming Ma
Yanglei Li
Qingshang Li
Xiaona Hu
Jie Chen
Zhijun Bao
author_facet Dan Ye
Jiaofeng Wang
Jiaheng Shi
Yiming Ma
Yanglei Li
Qingshang Li
Xiaona Hu
Jie Chen
Zhijun Bao
author_sort Dan Ye
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is high among U.S. adults, but studies on its occurrence in different ethnic and age groups are limited. The aim of the present study was to assess MAFLD occurrence among the U.S. adults by considering demographic characteristics, physical indices, and lifestyle conditions. Methods This study utilized the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data 2009–2018 from 23,546 participants aged ≥ 20 years. Variables such as age, sex, race, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure, sedentary behavior, sleep, and depression were analyzed. Results Among 9933 participants, 3562 had MAFLD (34.1%), with notably higher percentages of Mexican-Americans (54.1%) and lower percentages of blacks (20.5%). The incidence of MAFLD was significantly greater (P < 0.001) in males (39%) than in females (29.2%), which was particularly evident within the 36–40 years age group. The MAFLD incidence exhibited an age-dependent pattern, initially increasing and subsequently declining (except for whites). Compared to white MAFLD patients, black MAFLD patients exhibited greater BMI, WC, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) values, whereas values for these measures were lower among Mexican–American patients. Logistic regression analysis adjusting for age and sex revealed that depression was more common among MAFLD patients (P < 0.001), except for severe depression (P > 0.05). Notably, the MAFLD incidence was not significantly associated with sedentary behavior or sleep duration. Conclusions The MAFLD incidence varies across different racial, age, and sex groups, and targeted interventions are essential for reducing the burden of MAFLD. However, further research is necessary to explore the correlations among MAFLD incidence, sleep patterns, and an inactive lifestyle.
format Article
id doaj-art-bc06355b0a134db1aa799f07a5769553
institution DOAJ
issn 1471-230X
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Gastroenterology
spelling doaj-art-bc06355b0a134db1aa799f07a57695532025-08-20T02:55:35ZengBMCBMC Gastroenterology1471-230X2025-05-0125111010.1186/s12876-025-03956-2Prevalence of MAFLD in the U.S. based on NHANES 2009–2018: differences in demographic characteristics, physical indices and lifestyle conditionsDan Ye0Jiaofeng Wang1Jiaheng Shi2Yiming Ma3Yanglei Li4Qingshang Li5Xiaona Hu6Jie Chen7Zhijun Bao8Department of Gastroenterology, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan UniversityShanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric MedicineDepartment of Gastroenterology, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan UniversityDepartment of General Practice, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan UniversityDepartment of Gastroenterology, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan UniversityDepartment of Gastroenterology, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan UniversityDepartment of Gastroenterology, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan UniversityShanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric MedicineShanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric MedicineAbstract Background The incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is high among U.S. adults, but studies on its occurrence in different ethnic and age groups are limited. The aim of the present study was to assess MAFLD occurrence among the U.S. adults by considering demographic characteristics, physical indices, and lifestyle conditions. Methods This study utilized the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data 2009–2018 from 23,546 participants aged ≥ 20 years. Variables such as age, sex, race, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure, sedentary behavior, sleep, and depression were analyzed. Results Among 9933 participants, 3562 had MAFLD (34.1%), with notably higher percentages of Mexican-Americans (54.1%) and lower percentages of blacks (20.5%). The incidence of MAFLD was significantly greater (P < 0.001) in males (39%) than in females (29.2%), which was particularly evident within the 36–40 years age group. The MAFLD incidence exhibited an age-dependent pattern, initially increasing and subsequently declining (except for whites). Compared to white MAFLD patients, black MAFLD patients exhibited greater BMI, WC, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) values, whereas values for these measures were lower among Mexican–American patients. Logistic regression analysis adjusting for age and sex revealed that depression was more common among MAFLD patients (P < 0.001), except for severe depression (P > 0.05). Notably, the MAFLD incidence was not significantly associated with sedentary behavior or sleep duration. Conclusions The MAFLD incidence varies across different racial, age, and sex groups, and targeted interventions are essential for reducing the burden of MAFLD. However, further research is necessary to explore the correlations among MAFLD incidence, sleep patterns, and an inactive lifestyle.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03956-2MAFLDNHANESAdultRaceBMIDepression
spellingShingle Dan Ye
Jiaofeng Wang
Jiaheng Shi
Yiming Ma
Yanglei Li
Qingshang Li
Xiaona Hu
Jie Chen
Zhijun Bao
Prevalence of MAFLD in the U.S. based on NHANES 2009–2018: differences in demographic characteristics, physical indices and lifestyle conditions
BMC Gastroenterology
MAFLD
NHANES
Adult
Race
BMI
Depression
title Prevalence of MAFLD in the U.S. based on NHANES 2009–2018: differences in demographic characteristics, physical indices and lifestyle conditions
title_full Prevalence of MAFLD in the U.S. based on NHANES 2009–2018: differences in demographic characteristics, physical indices and lifestyle conditions
title_fullStr Prevalence of MAFLD in the U.S. based on NHANES 2009–2018: differences in demographic characteristics, physical indices and lifestyle conditions
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of MAFLD in the U.S. based on NHANES 2009–2018: differences in demographic characteristics, physical indices and lifestyle conditions
title_short Prevalence of MAFLD in the U.S. based on NHANES 2009–2018: differences in demographic characteristics, physical indices and lifestyle conditions
title_sort prevalence of mafld in the u s based on nhanes 2009 2018 differences in demographic characteristics physical indices and lifestyle conditions
topic MAFLD
NHANES
Adult
Race
BMI
Depression
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03956-2
work_keys_str_mv AT danye prevalenceofmafldintheusbasedonnhanes20092018differencesindemographiccharacteristicsphysicalindicesandlifestyleconditions
AT jiaofengwang prevalenceofmafldintheusbasedonnhanes20092018differencesindemographiccharacteristicsphysicalindicesandlifestyleconditions
AT jiahengshi prevalenceofmafldintheusbasedonnhanes20092018differencesindemographiccharacteristicsphysicalindicesandlifestyleconditions
AT yimingma prevalenceofmafldintheusbasedonnhanes20092018differencesindemographiccharacteristicsphysicalindicesandlifestyleconditions
AT yangleili prevalenceofmafldintheusbasedonnhanes20092018differencesindemographiccharacteristicsphysicalindicesandlifestyleconditions
AT qingshangli prevalenceofmafldintheusbasedonnhanes20092018differencesindemographiccharacteristicsphysicalindicesandlifestyleconditions
AT xiaonahu prevalenceofmafldintheusbasedonnhanes20092018differencesindemographiccharacteristicsphysicalindicesandlifestyleconditions
AT jiechen prevalenceofmafldintheusbasedonnhanes20092018differencesindemographiccharacteristicsphysicalindicesandlifestyleconditions
AT zhijunbao prevalenceofmafldintheusbasedonnhanes20092018differencesindemographiccharacteristicsphysicalindicesandlifestyleconditions