Introduction and Objective: In the past two decades, NAFLD prevalence in Chinese adults was estimated at 29.6%. Following the recent transition to MASLD terminology, evidence on its burden in China is scarce. Updated EASL-EASD-EASO Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) introduced new definitions and screening pathways for MASLD, but real-world adoption remains limited. Using the Meinian database, this study evaluated MASLD prevalence, patient characteristics, and implementation of the EASL clinical care pathway in the Chinese population. Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional study analysed adults (≥18 years) who underwent health check-ups at Meinian Healthcare Group, China’s largest private health screening network, covering 20 million individuals across 31 provincial-level regions (Jan-Dec 2023). The study population included adults with complete data for evaluating against EASL CPG. The EASL-defined at-risk population comprised of patients with type 2 diabetes, or obesity +≥1 cardiometabolic risk factor, or elevated liver enzymes. Data were analyzed descriptively. Results: Of 22,400,024 participants in the database, 21,637,187 were eligible Overall, MASLD prevalence was 30% and it was 77% in individuals with obesity and 67% in those with diabetes. Among MASLD cohort (mean age: 46 years; 70% male), 36% were obese, 13% had diabetes, 37% hypertension, 53% dyslipidaemia. The study population included 1,124,132 individuals evaluating against EASL CPG. When stratified by EASL CPG using FIB-4 followed by liver stiffness measurement, 405,342 (36%) were at-risk of which 78.8% were low risk, 15% intermediate risk, 6.3% high risk. Conclusion: Nearly, 1 in 3 patients in representative health check-up cohort had MASLD, with prevalence comparable with earlier NAFLD estimates. This high burden emphasises the importance of systematic screening and need for assessing patients with cardiometabolic risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, dyslipidaemia and hypertension to avoid the development and progression of MASH in China. Disclosure W. Wang: None. L. Wei: Consultant; Current; AbbVie Inc., AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Haisco, Innovent, Merck Sharp Current; AbbVie Inc., AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Innovent, Pfizer Inc., Sanofi. S. Wang: None. Z. Shen: Employee; Current; Novo Nordisk. Stock/Shareholder; Current; Novo Nordisk. K. Opuni: Employee; Current; Novo Nordisk A/S. Stock/Shareholder; Current; Novo Nordisk. L. Guo: Consultant; Current; Abbott Diabetes, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Dreisamtech, Dongbao, Eli Lilly and Company, Gan Current; Abbott Diabetes, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Dreisamtech, Eli Lilly and Company, Hansoh, Hengrui, Hua Medicine, Huadong Medicine, Innovent, Meitekanger, Novo Nordisk, Salubris, Sanofi, Synapsor, Zense.
WANG et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: