Risk factors for fibrosis progression in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: Analysis of the European cohort in the real-world GAIN study

OBJECTIVE

To better understand drivers of disease progression in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), we assessed clinical and sociodemographic markers of fibrosis progression in adults with NASH.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Physician-reported patient demographics and clinical characteristics were utilised from the real-world Global Assessment of the Impact of NASH (GAIN) study. Factors associated with likelihood of fibrosis progression since NASH diagnosis were identified using a logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Overall, 2349 patients in Europe from the GAIN study were included; mean age was 54.6 years and 41% were women. Significant covariates included age, years since diagnosis, employment status, fibrosis stage at diagnosis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, liver transplant and liver biopsy at diagnosis. Risk of progression was 1.16 (95% confidence interval 1.12-1.20; p<0.001) times higher for each additional year since NASH diagnosis and 5.43 (2.68-11.37; p<0.001) times higher when physicians proposed a liver transplant at diagnosis. Compared with full-time employed patients, risk of progression was 1.77 (1.19-2.60; p=0.004) times higher for unemployed patients and 3.16 (1.30-7.63; p=0.010) times higher for those unable to work due to NASH.

CONCLUSIONS

Disease duration, NASH severity and presence of other metabolic comorbidities could help to assess risk of progression in patients with NASH.