Prevalence And Determinants Of Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) Among People Residing In Urban And Rural Areas Of Belagavi-Community Based Comparitive Study

India, with its rapidly developing economy and changing lifestyle, is witnessing a surge in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), now termed metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). MAFLD encompasses a spectrum of liver damage, from simple steatosis to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, often associated with metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Globally, NAFLD affects approximately 25% of the population, with India’s prevalence ranging from 6.7% to 55.1%. Urban areas show a higher prevalence (40.0%) compared to rural areas (29.2%). MAFLD’s new diagnostic criteria emphasize metabolic disorders, allowing for diagnosis regardless of alcohol consumption or co-existing liver diseases. While liver biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis, non-invasive tools like vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) are increasingly used to assess liver fibrosis and steatosis. As lifestyle and health factors evolve, MAFLD is projected to become the leading cause of chronic liver disease globally.

This study aims to assess the prevalence and determinants of MAFLD among adults in urban and rural Belagavi, informing public health research and prevention strategies.