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. 2023 Aug;17(4):773-791.
doi: 10.1007/s12072-023-10543-8. Epub 2023 May 19.

An international multidisciplinary consensus statement on MAFLD and the risk of CVD

Affiliations

An international multidisciplinary consensus statement on MAFLD and the risk of CVD

Xiao-Dong Zhou et al. Hepatol Int. 2023 Aug.

Abstract

Background: Fatty liver disease in the absence of excessive alcohol consumption is an increasingly common condition with a global prevalence of ~ 25-30% and is also associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Since systemic metabolic dysfunction underlies its pathogenesis, the term metabolic (dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has been proposed for this condition. MAFLD is closely intertwined with obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and atherogenic dyslipidemia, which are established cardiovascular risk factors. Unlike CVD, which has received attention in the literature on fatty liver disease, the CVD risk associated with MAFLD is often underestimated, especially among Cardiologists.

Methods and results: A multidisciplinary panel of fifty-two international experts comprising Hepatologists, Endocrinologists, Diabetologists, Cardiologists and Family Physicians from six continents (Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Oceania) participated in a formal Delphi survey and developed consensus statements on the association between MAFLD and the risk of CVD. Statements were developed on different aspects of CVD risk, ranging from epidemiology to mechanisms, screening, and management.

Conculsions: The expert panel identified important clinical associations between MAFLD and the risk of CVD that could serve to increase awareness of the adverse metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes of MAFLD. Finally, the expert panel also suggests potential areas for future research.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Consensus; Delphi survey; MAFLD; Metabolic (dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

George V Papatheodoridis: Advisor: Abbvie, Albireo, Amgen, Dicerna, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Ipsen, Janssen, Novo Nordisk, Roche and Takeda; Lectures: Abbvie, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Ipsen, Novo Nordisk, Sobi; Research grants: Abbvie, Gilead; Investigator in clinical trials: Abbvie, Astellas, Bayer, Eiger, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Noorik, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Regulus, Roche, Takeda. Giada Sebastiani: Speaker: Merck, Gilead, Abbvie, Novonordisk, Novartis and Pfizer; Advisory board member: Pfizer, Merck, Novonordisk, Gilead and Intercept; Unrestricted research funding: Theratecnologies Inc. Gregory Y. H. Lip: Consultant and speaker for BMS/Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi-Sankyo, Anthem. No fees are received personally. GYHL is co-principal investigator of the AFFIRMO project on multimorbidity in AF, which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 899871. Jian-Gao Fan: Speaker, a consultant and an advisory for Sanofi, Abbott, EchoSens, Novartis, Hisky, Gilead, Allergan, Terns and MADAUS GMBH. John D. Ryan: None related to MAFLD. Consulting: Bond Biosciences, Pfizer, Gilead; Lectures: Kyowa kirin, Falk. Marat Fudim: Dr Fudim was supported by Bayer. He receives consulting fees from Bayer, Merck, NovoNordisk. Michael D. Shapiro: Research Grants (paid to my institution): AHA, NIH, Amgen, Novartis, Ionis, Esperion; Consultant: Ionis, Novartis, Regeneron; Scientific Advisory Boards: Amgen, Novartis, Precision Bioscience. Mindie H. Nguyen: Last 36 months: Research support: Pfizer, Enanta, Astra Zeneca, Innogen, Exact Science, CurveBio, Delfi Biotech, Gilead, Exact Sciences, Vir Biotech, Helio Health, National Cancer Institute, Glycotest, B.K. Kee Foundation. Consulting and/or Advisory Board: Intercept, Exact Science, Gilead, GSK, Eli Lilly, Laboratory of Advanced Medicine, Exelixis Research grants. Ming-Hua Zheng: Lectures: Hisky Medical. Philippe Gabriel Steg: Research grants: Amarin, Bayer, Sanofi, and Servier; Clinical Trials (Steering committee, CEC, DSMB): Amarin, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Idorsia, Novartis, PhaseBio, Pfizer, Sanofi, Servier; Consulting or speaking: Amarin, Amgen, BMS/Myokardia, Merck, Novo-Nordisk, Regeneron; Senior Associate Editor at Circulation. Seung Up Kim: He has served as an advisory committee member Gilead Sciences, Bayer, Eisai, and Novo Nordisk. He is a speaker for Gilead Sciences, GSK, Bayer, Eisai, Abbvie, EchoSens, MSD, Eisai, Otsuka, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. He has also received a research grant from Abbvie and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Vincent Wai-Sun Wong: Consultancy: AbbVie, Boehringer Ingelheim, Echosens, Gilead Sciences, Intercept, Inventiva, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Sagimet Biosciences, TARGET PharmaSolutions; Lectures: Abbott, AbbVie, Gilead Sciences, Novo Nordisk; Research grants: Gilead Sciences; Stock: Co-founder of Illuminatio Medical Technology Limited. Wah Kheong Chan: Consultant or advisory board member for Roche, Abbvie, Boehringer Ingelheim and Novo Nordisk; speaker for Viatris and Hisky Medical. Yusuf Yilmaz: He has served as consultant to Cymabay, Zydus, Novo Nordisk, and Echosens. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of the Delphi procedure adopted for developing a consensus statement on MAFLD and risk of CVD
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Proportion of experts replying "agree" by experts in Round 1 and Round 2 (a); and total proportion of experts replying "agree or somewhat agree" by experts in Round 1 and Round 2 (b)

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