High OSA risk was associated with significantly lower SF-36 scores compared to low OSA risk, both among participants with MASLD (74.4 vs. 82.3; p<0.001) and without MASLD (73.5 vs. 83.4; p<0.001).
Cohort (n=2,983)
Yes
Does high OSA risk reduce health-related quality of life in adults with and without MASLD?
High OSA risk is significantly associated with lower health-related quality of life among adults, independent of MASLD status.
p-value: p=<0.001
Abstract Rationale Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) are prevalent, overlapping conditions with significant impact on patient well-being. Both are associated with cardiometabolic risk and systemic inflammation, yet their individual and combined effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remain uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the association between OSA risk and HRQoL among patients with and without MASLD. Methods This prospective, multi-center, population-based cohort study from three major regions in Saudi Arabia included adults being assessed for OSA risk and the presence of MASLD. We defined MASLD as evidence of moderate to severe hepatic steatosis on transient elastography (controlled attenuation parameter ≥268 dB/m) and at least one cardiometabolic risk factor. We assessed OSA risk using the Berlin Questionnaire, and HRQoL using Short Form-36 (SF-36) Questionnaire. Mean SF-36 scores were compared across OSA risk and MASLD status groups. Results Among 2,983 adults (mean age: 41.9 ± 13.3 years; females: 1,495 50.1%, median body mass index: 28.8 25.2-32.7 kg/m²), 1,111 (37.2%) had MASLD and 729 (24.4%) had high OSA risk. By subgroup, 411 (13.8%) had MASLD with high OSA risk, 700 (23.5%) had MASLD with low OSA risk, 318 (10.7%) were non-MASLD with high OSA risk, and 1,554 (52.1%) were non-MASLD with low OSA. Participants at high OSA risk had significantly lower SF-36 scores than those at low OSA risk, both among participants with MASLD (74.4 ± 16.6 vs. 82.3 ± 13.1; p 0.001) and without MASLD (73.5 ± 17.2 vs. 83.4 ± 13.2; p 0.001). No difference in SF-36 scores was observed between those with and without MASLD within the high OSA risk subgroup (Figure 1). Conclusion High OSA risk, independent of MASLD status, was the primary driver of lower HRQoL among adults evaluated for OSA risk and MASLD. These findings underscore the need to address OSA as a potentially modifiable contributor to HRQoL impairment. Integrating OSA screening into metabolic care pathways may help identify individuals at risk for poorer overall health outcomes. Future studies should evaluate whether OSA treatment can improve HRQoL in individuals at risk for both conditions. This abstract is funded by: None
Alqahtani et al. (Fri,) conducted a cohort in Obstructive sleep apnea risk and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (n=2,983). High OSA risk vs. Low OSA risk was evaluated on Mean SF-36 scores (p=<0.001). High OSA risk was associated with significantly lower SF-36 scores compared to low OSA risk, both among participants with MASLD (74.4 vs. 82.3; p<0.001) and without MASLD (73.5 vs. 83.4; p<0.001).