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

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.