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Abstract: Objective To investigate the value of obesity-related indicators in the risk prediction
of metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Methods A total of 2194 subjects were
selected from the 2017—2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
database. These subjects were divided into the MAFLD group (1143 cases) and the non
MAFLD group (1051 cases). Multivariate Logistic regression model was used to evaluate
whether body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, visceral fat mass (VFM), lean body mass (LBM) and visceral fat ratio [ln (LBM/VFM)] were risk factors for MAFLD. Restricted
cubic spline (RCS) regression was applied to assess the dose-response relationship between
obesity-related indicators and MAFLD. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve
was utilized to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of obesity-related indicators for MAFLD in
different subgroups. Results Multivariable adjusted regression analysis showed that VFM
(OR = 1.007, 95%CI: 1.005~1.009, P < 0.001), waist circumference (OR = 1.11, 95%CI:
1.09~1.13, P < 0.001) and BMI (OR = 1.27, 95%CI: 1.21~1.34, P < 0.001) were identified
as independent risk factors for MAFLD. Specifically, for each 1-unit increment in VFM, the risk
of MAFLD onset was increased by 0.7%. In male, > 40 years, and ≤ 40 years subgroups, the
areas under the ROC curve of VFM for predicting MAFLD (0.871, 0.853, 0.857) were higher
than those of waist circumference (0.837, 0.816, 0.854), ln (VFM/LBM) (0.801, 0.723, 0.750)
and BMI (0.823, 0.804, 0.841), respectively. In non-obese population (BMI < 25 kg/m2 ), the
area under the ROC curve of VFM was 0.846, while waist circumference had better predictive
ability for MAFLD in women than VFM, BMI, and ln (VFM/LBM) (areas under the ROC
curve: 0.839 vs. 0.827 vs. 0.817 vs. 0.746). Conclusions Compared to traditional indicators
such as waist circumference and BMI, VFM demonstrated better predictive ability for the
occurrence of MAFLD. It showed high predictive value in males, individuals aged > 40 years
and ≤ 40 years, and non-obese MAFLD populations. However, in the female subgroup, waist
circumference had higher diagnostic value for MAFLD.
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