Objective:

To evaluate temporal trends in the incidence and prevalence of sarcopenia among patients with MASLD and assess its association with specific hepatic and cardiovascular outcomes.

Approach:

Key Findings:

• Among 1,232,337 patients with MASLD, 714 had documented sarcopenia.
• Both incidence and prevalence of sarcopenia increased steadily over the study period.
• Sarcopenia was associated with higher odds of cirrhosis (OR 4.46), hepatic decompensation (OR 5.18), and all-cause mortality (OR 2.36).
• Sarcopenic MASLD patients had increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, including heart failure, ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, cerebrovascular events, and thrombotic disorders.
• Sarcopenia independently predicted hepatic outcomes (HR 5.03) and cardiovascular outcomes (HR 2.24).

Interpretation:

Sarcopenia is an increasingly prevalent condition in MASLD and a powerful independent predictor of adverse hepatic and cardiovascular outcomes in non-cirrhotic disease.

Limitations:

• The study is retrospective and may be subject to biases inherent in electronic health record data.
• Longitudinal data may not capture all relevant variables influencing outcomes, including potential confounding factors.

Conclusion:

Sarcopenia identification and management are crucial for improving long-term outcomes in MASLD, emphasizing the need for early intervention strategies.

Attribution Notice

This content is an AI-generated, fully rewritten summary based on a published scholarly article. It does not reproduce the original text and is not a substitute for the original publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the source for full context, data, and methodology.