Fatigue, depression, and sleep disorders are more prevalent in patients with metabolic-associated fatty liver diseases

Abstract

Patients with metabolic-associated fatty liver disorders (MAFLD) report feeling fatigued. It adversely affects their mortality, morbidity, and health-related quality of life (HRQL). Aim To determine the prevalence and risk factors for depression, sleep disturbances, and exhaustion in MAFLD patients. Methods Two hundred twenty-four consecutive patients with MAFLD attending the outpatient clinic from April to October 2023; were subjected to clinical evaluation, laboratory testing including non-invasive laboratory markers, fibroscan (measuring steatosis and fibrosis), and different quantitative and qualitative fatigue scores. A control group including 342 patients without MAFLD was taken. Results The prevalence of fatigue, depression, and sleeping disorders in the MAFLD group was 67.8%, 75%, 62.5% vs 21%, 16.4%, and 19.5% in the control group respectively (P = <0.001, P = <0.001 and P = <0.001). MAFLD with fatigue was significantly associated with the presence and severity of steatosis and fibrosis by fibroscan (P = <0.0001). By univariate and multivariate analysis: age, BMI, waist circumference, T2DM, hypertension, steatosis, fibrosis, and Fib-4 were considered risk factors for fatigue in the MAFLD group. The age, high social level, diabetes, hypertension, steatosis, fibrosis, and fib-4 were considered, by univariate and multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for depression in the MAFLD group. age, BMI, waist circumference, diabetes, hypertension, steatosis, fibrosis, and fib-4 were independent risk factors for sleep disorders in MAFLD. Conclusion Fatigue, sleeping disorders, and depression are more prevalent in MAFLD patients than in the general population. The lower health utility scores in patients with MAFLD are associated with more advanced stages of the disease.