Longitudinal associations between metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and subclinical cardiovascular measures in Chinese children

The clinical utility of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in predicting subsequent subclinical cardiovascular damages in pediatric population remains poorly understood. Data on 1,161 Chinese children aged 10-15 years were used to assess the longitudinal associations of MASLD with subsequent subclinical cardiovascular damages. Compared with relatively healthy children, children with MASLD had abnormal vascular and cardiac structures, along with reduced cardiac diastolic function at the 2-year follow-up. Additionally, children with MASLD had a significantly increased risk of high carotid intima-media thickness and left ventricular hypertrophy. These findings support the clinical utility of MASLD in predicting the development of subclinical cardiovascular damages in childhood.