The Risk of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated skin disease associated with several metabolic comorbidities. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is also linked to psoriasis, but evidence regarding the severity of this association remains inconclusive. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the relationship between MASLD and varying severities of psoriasis. Methods: We conducted an extensive search of four databases, MEDLINE, EMBASE, OSF, and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify relevant published articles assessing the risk of prevalent MASLD in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis up to April 2024. Effect estimates from each included study were combined together to calculate a pooled effect estimate for the meta-analysis using the generic inverse variance method of DerSimonian and Laird. Results: This meta-analysis included eight studies with a total of 109,806 participants. A 4.01-fold increased risk of prevalent MASLD was observed in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis compared to those without psoriasis (95% CI: 2.17, 7.77; I2 = 67%, p < 0.0001). The evidence supporting this outcome had low certainty. Conclusions: An incremental trend of MASLD was observed in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Routine screening for MASLD should be emphasized in this population.