Background: Background: Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver
Disease (MAFLD) is a common liver disorder linked to
metabolic dysfunction and poses a growing public health
challenge. This study aims to determine the prevalence and
associated risk factors of MAFLD among employees at Benha
University Hospitals, Egypt. Methods: A cross-sectional study
was conducted involving 200 adult hospital employees over the
period from July 2022 to July 2023. Results: MAFLD was
identified in 18.6% of participants. The MAFLD group had
significantly higher age (47 ± 9 vs. 37 ± 7 years, P < 0.001), BMI
(28.7 ± 4.5 vs. 24.3 ± 3.7 kg/m², P < 0.001), Fatty Liver Index
(FLI) (74 ± 17 vs. 51 ± 17, P < 0.001), and serum ferritin (276
vs. 149 ng/mL, P < 0.001). ROC analysis showed good
predictive performance for serum ferritin (AUC = 0.78) and BMI
(AUC = 0.75). Logistic regression identified FLI (OR = 1.06, P =
0.002) and serum ferritin (OR = 1.01, P = 0.027) as independent
predictors of MAFLD, while BMI and Triglycerides (TGs)
showed borderline significance. Conclusion: MAFLD is highly
prevalent among hospital employees and is strongly related to
metabolic risk factors. FLI and serum ferritin are reliable noninvasive predictors. Targeted screening and metabolic control
strategies are essential to address this growing burden |
