Korean Health Screening-Based Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Registry

Overview

The goal of this observational study is to establish a multi-center registry to better understand Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) using health screening data from Korean hospitals. MASLD is a liver condition where excess fat builds up in the liver and is closely linked to metabolic health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * What are the characteristics of people with MASLD? * How is MASLD related to other health conditions, especially heart and blood vessel diseases? * What factors might help identify MASLD early? Researchers will compare two groups of people: * People who have MASLD * People who don't have MASLD (control group) This study will look at health screening records from 2020 to 2023 from six Korean hospitals. The research team will collect and analyze: * Basic health information (age, gender, weight, height, waist size) * Lifestyle habits (drinking, smoking, exercise, eating habits) * Medical conditions (high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol) * Results from medical tests including: Liver ultrasound and Fibroscan results Heart CT scans Blood vessel ultrasound Blood test results Other health screening results Participants in this study will not need to do anything new. The researchers will only look at information that was already collected during regular health screenings. All personal information will be protected and kept private. This research could help doctors: * Better understand who is at risk for MASLD * Find MASLD earlier * Develop better ways to prevent and treat MASLD * Understand how MASLD is connected to other health problems The study will take place over 3 years and includes adults age 19 and older who had health screenings at participating Korean hospitals. People who drink large amounts of alcohol or have other liver diseases will not be included in the study. By learning more about MASLD through this registry study, researchers hope to improve healthcare for people with or at risk for this liver condition.

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) is a condition characterized by excessive fat accumulation in the liver, associated with metabolic dysfunction. Unlike traditional concepts of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), MASLD emphasizes the central role of metabolic health in liver disease development. This condition is closely linked with metabolic syndrome components including insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and obesity. Patients with MASLD face increased risks of liver damage and functional decline, potentially progressing to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer. Additionally, MASLD shows strong associations with cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and rheumatic conditions, making its management crucial for overall health maintenance. The establishment of a multi-center registry for MASLD through Korean health screening data represents a significant advancement in liver disease research. The Korean healthcare system's comprehensive health screening infrastructure provides an exceptional opportunity to study MASLD systematically across multiple centers, as it routinely includes liver ultrasound, metabolic parameter assessments, and cardiovascular evaluations. This study utilizes data from six major Korean hospitals to establish a detailed registry that will enhance our understanding of MASLD's characteristics and its associations with other health conditions. The liver's role as a central metabolic hub makes it crucial for studying the bidirectional relationship between hepatic function and systemic metabolic disorders. Recent evidence has shown strong connections between fatty liver disease and cardiovascular outcomes, making the inclusion of cardiac CT and carotid ultrasound data particularly valuable. Asian populations, including Koreans, often exhibit distinct patterns of MASLD compared to Western populations, particularly regarding body mass index thresholds and metabolic risk factors. The registry implements innovative approaches to data collection and analysis by combining multiple data streams from routine health screenings, including advanced imaging techniques, metabolic parameters, inflammatory markers, cardiovascular risk factors, and lifestyle information. To ensure consistency across participating centers, the study employs standardized data collection protocols and unified formatting requirements, with centralized data management at Korea University Ansan Hospital. The comprehensive approach to studying MASLD through health screening data represents a significant opportunity to advance our understanding of this condition in the Korean population. The findings from this registry will benefit current clinical practice and pave the way for future research and improvements in patient care. As metabolic health continues to be a growing concern globally, this registry's contributions to our understanding of MASLD will have far-reaching implications for public health and clinical practice.