Liver stiffness progression in biopsy-proven metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic disease among people with diabetes versus people without diabetes: A prospective multicenter study

Abstract

Background and Aims: There are limited data on the progression of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) versus those without T2DM in biopsy-proven metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease. We examined LSM progression in participants with T2DM versus those without T2DM in a large, prospective, multicenter cohort study. Approach and Results: This study included 1231 adult participants (62% female) with biopsy-proven metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease who had VCTEs at least 1 year apart. LSM progression and regression were defined by a ≥20% increase and an upward or downward change, respectively, in the LSM category in the Baveno VII categories for compensated advanced chronic liver disease, compared between participants with T2DM (n = 680) versus no T2DM (n = 551) at baseline. The mean (±SD) age and body mass index were 51.8 (±12.0) years and 34.0 (±6.5) kg/m2, respectively. The median (IQR) time between the first and last VCTE measurements was 4.1 (2.5–6.5) years. Participants with T2DM had higher LSM progression at 4 years (12% vs. 10%), 6 years (23% vs. 16%), and 8 years (50% vs. 39%), p = 0.04. Using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for multiple confounders, the presence of T2DM remained an independent predictor of LSM progression (adjusted HR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.01–1.81, p = 0.04). T2DM was not associated with LSM regression (p = 0.71). Mean HbA1c was significantly associated with LSM progression (p = 0.003) and regression (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Using serial VCTE data from a multicenter study of participants with biopsy-proven metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease, we demonstrate that T2DM and HbA1c are associated with LSM progression.