Impact of Metabolic Disorders on cACLD Outcomes

Overview

This multicenter, prospective, cohort study is designed to investigate how metabolic disorders (such as obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol) influence the progression of liver disease in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD). Chronic liver disease often progresses silently for many years before serious complications like liver failure, cancer, or variceal bleeding develop. While it is known that metabolic problems can accelerate liver damage, current tools for predicting individual risk remain limited. This study aims to enroll approximately 4,307 adults with cACLD from six major medical centers across China. Participants will undergo regular follow-up every 3 to 6 months for up to 5 years, during which routine clinical assessments, non-invasive imaging (including MRI elastography), metabolic health indicators, and biological samples will be collected. No experimental treatments are provided; participants receive standard medical care as determined by their physicians. The primary goal is to determine whether metabolic abnormalities are linked to serious liver-related events including ascites, variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, liver cancer, liver failure, and liver-related death. The study will also evaluate how advanced imaging techniques predict these complications and develop a comprehensive risk prediction model integrating metabolic factors, imaging results, and traditional liver function tests. By better understanding the role of metabolic health in liver disease progression, this research may help identify new intervention targets and improve the ability to predict which patients are most likely to develop serious complications, ultimately leading to more personalized care and better outcomes for individuals with chronic liver disease.

Conditions