Low thyroid function is associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

Shuo Wang; Ding Xia; Hong Fan; Zhenqiu Liu; Ruilin Chen; Chen Suo; Tiejun Zhang

doi:10.1002/jgh3.13038

Low thyroid function is associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

JGH Open. 2024 Feb 23;8(2):e13038. doi: 10.1002/jgh3.13038. eCollection 2024 Feb.

Authors

Shuo Wang¹, Ding Xia^{1

2}, Hong Fan¹, Zhenqiu Liu^{3

4}, Ruilin Chen¹, Chen Suo^{1

3

5}, Tiejun Zhang^{1

3

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health Fudan University Shanghai China.
² Lifecycle Health Management Center, Ruijin Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China.
³ Fudan University Taizhou Institute of Health Sciences Taizhou China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, School of Life Sciences Fudan University Shanghai China.
⁵ Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Public Health Fudan University Shanghai China.

Abstract

Background and aim: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is recently introduced to better highlight the pathogenic significance of cardiometabolic dysfunction, as compared with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This study aimed to investigate the association between low thyroid function and MASLD in the new context.

Methods: We recruited 2901 participants for our retrospective cohort study from 2016 to 2021. Participants were divided into strict-normal thyroid function and low thyroid function groups (low-normal thyroid function, subclinical hypothyroidism) based on initial thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, respectively. Cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CI.

Results: During a median follow-up of 15.6 months, 165 (8.9%) strict-normal thyroid function subjects and 141 (13.4%) low thyroid function subjects developed MASLD; this result was statistically relevant (P < 0.05). Univariate regression analysis showed that low thyroid function and subclinical hypothyroidism were statistically significantly associated with MASLD (low thyroid function: HR1.53; 95% CI 1.22-1.92; subclinical hypothyroidism: HR1.95; 95% CI 1.47-2.60).

Conclusions: MASLD is associated with low thyroid function and the relationship between MASLD and low thyroid function is independent.

Keywords: low thyroid function; metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease; thyroid stimulating hormone.