Association of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease with Gastrointestinal Infections

Abstract

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is, in current context, a highly emergent health issue globally, associated with most of the other components of the metabolic syndrome, such as diabetes and obesity. A new study adds to the body of such reports, associating it with a higher susceptibility to gastrointestinal (GI) infections, primarily due to gut-liver axis dysregulation. This is necessary to understand for the purpose of developing effective treatment and management programmes.

Objective: To know how MAFLD is associated with the presence of gastrointestinal infections together with identifying the demographic and comorbid factors that may influence this relationship.

Methods: The current research was a retrospective analysis of the data from the Patient record on adult patients who had been diagnosed with MAFLD. The patients were stratified in sampling based on which of the 550 patients will form an appropriate sample divided into two categories: 550 were compared with and without GI infections. Data collection was anonymous in relation to the patient, and the current procedures were performed in compliance with the ethical provisions set out in the Declaration of Helsinki. The data were analyzed statistically by SPSS 25 software, and the p-values for significance for all categorical variables were found through chi-square testing.

Results: Our evaluation indicated that patients aged over 65 years had a frequency of 57.09% for GI infections with MAFLD, compared to 43.82% in their counterparts without GI infections, and the p-value was very statistically significant, i.e. less than 0.001. Another set of statistically significant findings were an increased rate of GI infections in patients who were self-paying, at 53.45%, compared to 46.55% whose expenses were covered, with a p-value of less than 0.001, and those with diabetes, hypertension, or both. In general, when adjusted for demographic and comorbidity, the analysis of the group was statistically significant regarding GI infections in the patient population of MAFLD.

Conclusion: The study underscores the strong association of MAFLD with higher prevalence of the GI infections in elderly and in economic disadvantage groups. The evidence indicates that clinical outcomes in a MAFLD population are improved by care coordination in metabolic and infectious disease.

Keywords: Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease; Gastrointestinal Infections; Patient Record; Gut-Liver Axis; Comorbidity Analysis