Cardiovascular health metrics and the risk of metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatosis liver disease: A meta‑analysis

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Meta-Analysis. Population: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) (n=36187). Intervention: High Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score vs. Low LE8 score. Primary outcome: Risk of MASLD (OR 0.07, 95% CI 0.02-0.19).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

A high Life's Essential 8 cardiovascular health score is associated with a markedly lower risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease compared to a low score. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Gang Fan; Hong Zuo; Bo Liu

doi:10.3892/etm.2026.13297

September 14, 2026Experimental and Therapeutic MedicineOpen Access

Cardiovascular health metrics and the risk of metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatosis liver disease: A meta‑analysis

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Key result

A high Life's Essential 8 (LE8) cardiovascular health score was associated with a significantly decreased risk of MASLD compared to a low LE8 score (OR 0.07).

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Why the study?

The associations between the Life's Essential 8 score and the risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatosis liver disease were not well established.

Does a higher Life's Essential 8 (LE8) cardiovascular health score reduce the risk of MASLD in the general adult population?

Key Points

To ascertain the associations between the Life's Essential 8 (LE8) cardiovascular health score and the risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatosis liver disease (MASLD).
Systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to December 2025.
Meta-analysis synthesized data across five observational studies encompassing 36,187 participants aged 18 to 70 years using R software.
A moderate LE8 score was associated with a reduced risk of MASLD compared to a low LE8 score (OR=0.36, 95% CI: 0.25-0.52).
A high LE8 score was indicative of a decreased risk of MASLD compared to a low LE8 score (OR=0.07, 95% CI: 0.02-0.19).
Substantial statistical heterogeneity was observed across the included studies comparing the LE8 score and MASLD risk (I²=97.9%).

Study Design

Type

Meta-Analysis (n=36,187)

Structured PICO

Does a higher Life's Essential 8 (LE8) cardiovascular health score reduce the risk of MASLD in the general adult population?

P

Population

36,187 participants aged 18 to 70 years from 5 observational studies evaluating the association between cardiovascular health metrics and the risk of MASLD.

E

Exposure

High or moderate Life's Essential 8 (LE8) cardiovascular health score

C

Comparator

Low Life's Essential 8 (LE8) cardiovascular health score

O

Outcome

Risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatosis liver disease (MASLD)

Main Result

Odds Ratio: 0.07 (95% CI 0.02–0.19)

Limitations

Substantial heterogeneity observed across the included studies
Data restricted to US populations from NHANES, limiting generalizability
Cross-sectional nature of data is insufficient to establish causality
Differences in the definitions of MASLD across included studies
Inherent overlapping nature of meta-analyses
Overlapping of data across included studies
Significant heterogeneity due to differences in sex, age, study design, and analytic methods
Restricted geographical scope (all studies based on US NHANES data)
Differing definitions of MASLD across included studies
Study was not preregistered

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Implication

Favorable cardiovascular health metrics, as quantified by the Life's Essential 8 score, are strongly associated with a reduced risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatosis liver disease.

Abstract

The present study aimed to ascertain the associations between the Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatosis liver disease (MASLD) risk. The PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane library databases were searched from inception to December 2025. Data synthesis was performed using R software. The final analysis incorporated five observational studies, encompassing a total of 36,187 participants aged 18 to 70 years. The results showed that a moderate LE8 score was associated with a lower risk of MASLD compared to a low LE8 score [odds ratio (OR)=0.36, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.25-0.52]. Furthermore, compared to the low LE8 score, a high LE8 score was indicative of a decreased risk of MASLD (OR=0.07, 95% CI: 0.02-0.19). In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggests that favorable cardiovascular health metrics may confer protection against MASLD. However, the substantial heterogeneity observed across the included studies warrants a cautious interpretation of these findings.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Fan et al. (2026) conducted a meta-analysis in Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) (n=36,187). High Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score vs. Low LE8 score was evaluated on Risk of MASLD (OR 0.07, 95% CI 0.02-0.19). A high Life's Essential 8 (LE8) cardiovascular health score was associated with a significantly decreased risk of MASLD compared to a low LE8 score (OR 0.07).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6ad0fd3315427f6a840405a6 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2026.13297

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Cardiovascular health metrics and the risk of metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatosis liver disease: A meta‑analysis

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Cardiovascular health metrics and the risk of metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatosis liver disease: A meta‑analysis

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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