A Comparison of Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease and Steatotic Liver Disease in a Cohort of Egyptian People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of fatty liver disease in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) is significantly higher than in general population. This study aims to compare the burden of fatty liver disease in Egyptian PLHIV using both metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and steatotic liver disease (SLD) criteria. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on PLHIV attending the HIV reference center at Embaba Fever Hospital in Egypt between November 2019 and July 2021. Data collection included demographics, comorbidities, physical examination, laboratory tests, liver ultrasound, controlled attenuation parameter, and liver stiffness measurement using Fibroscan®. Results: The prevalence of SLD and MAFLD was 26.92% and 21.15%, respectively. The concordance between MAFLD and SLD definitions was low (kappa = 0.465). The presence of SLD was significantly associated with increased odds of significant fibrosis ( P = 0.045). However, MAFLD was not significantly associated with fibrosis ( P = 0.369). Conclusion: SLD demonstrates a stronger association with significant fibrosis than MAFLD in PLHIV. This highlights the potential of SLD as a more inclusive and representative classification for steatosis in PLHIV.