Prevalence and risk factors of metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease in south Central Uganda: A cross‐sectional survey

Summary Background Despite numerous risk factors and serious consequences, little is known about metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) at population level in Africa. Aim The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of MASLD in people living with and without HIV in Uganda. Methods We collected data from 37 communities in South Central Uganda between May 2016 and May 2018. We estimated MASLD prevalence using the fatty liver index and advanced liver fibrosis using the dynamic aspartate‐to‐alanine aminotransferase ratio. We collected additional data on sociodemographics, HIV and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. We used multivariable logistic regression to determine the association between HIV, CVD risk factors and MASLD. Results We included 759 people with HIV and 704 HIV‐negative participants aged 35–49. MASLD prevalence was 14% in women and 8% in men; advanced liver fibrosis prevalence was estimated to be