INTRODUCTION: Social determinants of health (SDOHs) affect disease risk and severity leading to health disparities. SDOH impacting metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) prevalence and severity are poorly characterized, and results are conflicting. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the impact of individual SDOH factors on MASLD burden for adults in the United States.
METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Studies from January 2010 to May 2024 were included. Quantitative studies of adults in the United States that evaluated SDOH beyond race/ethnicity were included. Outcomes included prevalence of MASLD, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), MASH-associated advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, and clinical outcomes.
RESULTS: We identified 18 studies comprising 547,634 total subjects from 11 unique cohorts. Nine studies evaluated MASLD prevalence, 3 MASH prevalence, 6 MASH-associated advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis prevalence, and 9 clinical outcomes. High-diet quality was the most consistent SDOH factor associated with both MASLD and MASH-associated advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis prevalence (summarized odds ratio of 0.76, P < 0.01, and 0.74, P < 0.01, respectively). Lower income was most consistently associated with risk of clinical outcomes (significant in 3/9 studies).
DISCUSSION: Diet quality was the most consistent SDOH associated with disease prevalence and severity in MASLD, with other SDOH showing inconsistent associations. Prospective assessments using consensus, validated tools to assess the impact of specific SDOH on MASLD burden in heterogenous patient populations are needed to inform public health interventions.
