Table 1.
Basal characteristics of the study population according to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) stage.
| No MASLD (n = 58) | MASL (n = 38) | MASH (n = 67) | p Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex (F, M) | 41/17 | 27/11 | 45/22 | 0.882 |
| Age (years) | 43.6 ± 9.2 a | 45.8 ± 7.7 ab | 47.4 ± 8.7 b | 0.048 |
| Weight (kg) | 128.8 ± 19.0 | 130.9 ± 19.3 | 137.3 ± 26.6 | 0.204 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 46.6 ± 5.9 | 46.9 ± 5.4 | 48.9 ± 7.1 | 0.163 |
| Hypertension (n, %) | 22 (37.9%) | 12 (31.6%) | 36 (53.7%) | 0.060 |
| SBP (mm Hg) | 131.6 ± 21.0 | 127.1 ± 12.1 | 131.5 ± 17.0 | 0.364 |
| DBP (mm Hg) | 83.1 ± 12.4 | 80.6 ± 9.9 | 82.0 ± 11.2 | 0.574 |
| Type 2 diabetes (n, %) | 16 (27.6%) | 13 (34.2%) | 32 (47.8%) | 0.060 |
| Glucose (mg/dL) | 98.8 ± 18.6 a | 107.6 ± 20.0 b | 109.1 ± 24.5 b | 0.006 |
| HbA1c (%) | 5.6 ± 0.7 a | 5.9 ± 0.7 b | 6.2 ± 1.3 b | 0.008 |
| Insulin (μIU/mL) | 16.5 ± 8.2 a | 17.8 ± 10.0 ab | 23.0 ± 13.5 b | 0.010 |
| HOMA-IR | 4.0 ± 2.1 a | 4.7 ± 2.6 ab | 6.4 ± 4.6 b | 0.003 |
| Cholesterol (mg/dL) | 182.0 ± 42.5 | 185.0 ± 37.1 | 188.4 ± 39.6 | 0.680 |
| HDL-C (mg/dL) | 44.5 ± 12.4 | 44.4 ± 13.9 | 42.7 ± 12.1 | 0.707 |
| LDL-C (mg/dL) | 113.1 ± 38.1 | 114.6 ± 27.0 | 115.4 ± 32.6 | 0.929 |
| Triglycerides (mg/dL) | 125.4 ± 63.8 a | 137.1 ± 77.4 ab | 156.9 ± 72.6 b | 0.011 |
| AST (U/L) | 25.4 ± 16.1 a | 28.1 ± 9.9 ab | 31.1 ± 13.9 b | 0.006 |
| ALT (U/L) | 28.3 ± 18.3 a | 35.3 ± 17.5 ab | 38.8 ± 18.1 b | <0.001 |
| AST/ALT ratio | 0.9 ± 0.3 | 0.9 ± 0.4 | 0.9 ± 0.3 | 0.167 |
| Albumin (g/dL) | 3.9 ± 0.4 | 3.8 ± 0.4 | 3.8 ± 0.4 | 0.499 |
| Platelets (103/μL) | 278.9 ± 91.0 | 253.3 ± 60.1 | 257.9 ± 75.5 | 0.626 |
| Histopathological parameters | ||||
| Steatosis (grade 0/1/2/3) | 58/0/0/0 | 0/29/2/7 | 0/39/17/11 | <0.001 |
| Necroinflammatory activity | ||||
| (grade 0/1/2/3) | 58/0/0/0 | 38/0/0/0 | 0/47/19/1 | <0.001 |
| Fibrosis (grade 0/1/2/3/4) | 58/0/0/0/0 | 38/0/0/0/0 | 16/30/12/8/1 | <0.001 |
Data are given as mean ± standard deviation (SD) or n (proportion). Comparisons among groups were performed using an ANOVA test for continuous variables with a normal distribution (i.e., age, DBP, cholesterol, LDL-C, and albumin), or a Kruskal–Wallis test for continuous variables without a normal distribution (i.e., body weight, BMI, SBP, glucose, HbA1c, insulin, HOMA-IR, HDL-C, triglycerides, AST, ALT, AST/ALT ratio, and platelets), followed by a Bonferroni post hoc analysis. To compare proportions, a Pearson’s Chi-squared test was used. Statistical significance was set for a p value < 0.05. Different superscript letters denote statistically significant differences within each row between the groups. MASLD, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease; MASL, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver; MASH, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis; F, female; M, male; BMI, body mass index; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin; HOMA-IR, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; TG, triglycerides; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase.