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. 2024 Sep 27;23(1):311.
doi: 10.1186/s12944-024-02299-3.

The Clínica Universidad de Navarra-Body Adiposity Estimator index is a reliable tool for screening metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: an analysis from a gender perspective

Chao Wang #  1   2 , Xin Huang #  1   2 , Shiming He #  1   2 , Maobin Kuang  1   2 , Guobo Xie  3   4 , Guotai Sheng  5   6 , Yang Zou  7
Affiliations

The Clínica Universidad de Navarra-Body Adiposity Estimator index is a reliable tool for screening metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: an analysis from a gender perspective

Chao Wang et al. Lipids Health Dis. .

Abstract

Background: The Clínica Universidad de Navarra-Body Adiposity Estimator (CUN-BAE) Index, serves as an effective tool for evaluating body fat (BF) levels. This research seeks to clarify the association between the CUN-BAE Index and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) from a gender perspective.

Methods: The study utilized data from a comprehensive health assessment initiative known as "Human Dock", involving 14,251 participants. MASLD was diagnosed using abdominal ultrasound, primarily evaluated based on the following sonographic features: hepatorenal echo contrast, vascular blurring, deep attenuation, liver brightness. First, we evaluated the association of MASLD with the CUN-BAE Index using multivariate logistic regression. Second, we visualized this association and estimated potential threshold effect points using the restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression model. Ultimately, we evaluated the ability of the CUN-BAE Index to detect MASLD through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results: The female-to-male ratio was 1:1.08, with a MASLD prevalence rate of 17.59%. Following the adjustment for confounding variables, an increase of one unit in the CUN-BAE Index corresponded to a 14% increase in the risk of MASLD for males and an 18% increase for females. RCS analysis revealed an S-shaped relationship between MASLD prevalence and the CUN-BAE Index for both genders, with potential threshold effect points at approximately 30 in females and 15 in males. Beyond these threshold points, the prevalence of MASLD increased rapidly. Further subgroup analyses indicated significant differences in the relationship of the CUN-BAE Index with MASLD within age and body mass index (BMI) subgroups in females, with a stronger association observed in younger and non-obese female participants. Additionally, ROC analysis revealed that the CUN-BAE Index possesses a strong ability to distinguish MASLD in both genders, especially in females.

Conclusions: This research is the first to identify a positive relationship between the CUN-BAE Index and MASLD. The CUN-BAE Index appears to be more suitable for early screening of MASLD in females.

Keywords: Body fat; CUN-BAE Index; Gender perspective; MASLD; Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart for inclusion and exclusion of study participants
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Violin plots show the baseline characteristics of the CUN-BAE Index in the MASLD and non- MASLD groups
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Dose-response relationship curves of CUN-BAE Index and prevalence of MASLD in both sexes
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
ROC curves of the CUN-BAE Index, BMI, WC, FLI, and HSI in identifying MASLD in males and females
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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