Our recently published study investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and metabolic co-morbidities of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in a large group of overweight children. Data of 703 patients aged 2-16 years examined due to overweight in different levels of healthcare in 2002-2020 were collected retrospectively from patient records.
Prevalence of MAFLD was 15%, with no statistically significant increase in the 2000s. The condition was associated in general with male gender, puberty stage and disturbances in glucose and lipid metabolism, and higher age and BMI in boys.
The high prevalence of MALFD in overweight and obese children supports their systematic screening to enable early diagnosis.
Riekki, H., Aitokari, L., Kivelä, L., Lahti, S., Hiltunen, P., Vuorela, N., Huhtala, H., Lakka, T. A., & Kurppa, K. (2023). Prevalence and associated factors of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease in overweight Finnish children and adolescents. Frontiers in endocrinology, 14, 1090344. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1090344