Key result
Childhood MASH is linked to higher adult risks of liver disease, hypertension, diabetes, and healthcare costs.
Why the study?
Does childhood MASH increase the risk of complications and medical costs in adulthood compared to children without MASH?
Cohort (n=934,035)
Does childhood MASH increase the risk of complications and medical costs in adulthood compared to children without MASH?
Childhood MASH is associated with a significantly increased risk of adult cardiometabolic, hepatic, and other complications, highlighting the need for early and active intervention.
The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which can be complicated by metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), is increasing worldwide. This study aimed to determine the risk of complications occurring in adulthood due to childhood MASH. This matched cohort study enrolled 12,894 children and adolescents aged between 7 and 18 years registered with the Korean National Health Insurance Service Database for the period 2002-2021. MASH was defined by the diagnostic code K75.8 before 19 years of age. The control group enrolled patients without MASH. The MASH and non-MASH population were matched 1:5. Among 12,894 MASH patients and 921,141 non-MASH patients, we analyzed the frequency of complications for 1-10 years, starting from 19 years of age, and medical costs, The MASH group had a higher hazard ratio of complications than the non-MASH group in adulthood, including liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, hypertensive disease, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, cancer, and mental illness. In addition, patients in the MASH group had higher medical costs than patients in the non-MASH group for other diseases, including for cerebrovascular and liver fibrosis. Children with MASH are at an increased risk of various complications in adulthood, inflicting a significant medical burden, necessitating more active management and intervention.
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Kang et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) (n=934,035). Childhood metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) vs. No childhood MASH was evaluated on Complications in adulthood and medical costs. Childhood MASH was associated with a higher risk of adulthood complications, including liver fibrosis, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer, as well as higher medical costs compared to those without MASH.
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