Fast score is associated with patient-reported outcomes in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

Abstract

Backgrounds: People with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) frequently report fatigue. This symptom is associated with hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. FibroScan-aspartate aminotransferase (FAST) score is a noninvasive measurement tool that can be used to assess the severity of MASLD. We aimed to investigate the independent factors associated with patient-reported outcomes (PROs) including fatigue, and their FAST scores.

Methods: We enrolled 116 patients with MASLD. PROs were assessed by the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (CLDQ-NAFLD), which consists of six domains including fatigue. Each domain score that was less than 6 was classified into the impairment group. A cutoff value of 0.67 in the FAST score was used to categorize a high or low FAST score. Independent factors associated with impaired PROs and fatigue were analyzed using logistic regression analysis and a graphical model.

Results: For factor total, in the logistic regression analysis, the high FAST score was only identified as a negative independent factor for impaired total CLDQ-NAFLD (odds ratio: 5.9, 95% confidence interval: 1.11-31.20, P = 0.034). The graphical model revealed that FAST score, BMI, and age directly interact with impaired total CLDQ-NAFLD. For fatigue, there was no statistically significant factor in the logistic regression analysis. The graphical model revealed that the FAST score, BMI, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and age directly interact with fatigue.

Conclusion: We found that the FAST score directly interacted with total CLDQ-NAFLD and the domain of fatigue. The FAST score may be a useful tool to assess impaired CLDQ-NAFLD.