Associations between exposure to ambient particulate matter and advanced liver fibrosis in Chinese MAFLD patients

Background & Aims: Liver fibrosis is an important feature in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). This study aimed to explore the association between long-term ambient particulate matter (PM) exposure and advanced liver fibrosis (ALF) in MAFLD participants. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 23170 adults recruited from 33 provinces of China from 2010 to 2020. ALF was detected using the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS). The annual average levels of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters of <= 1 mu m (PM1), <= 2.5 mu m (PM2.5) and <= 10 mu m (PM10) were calculated using validated spatiotemporal models. Generalized additive models were applied to analyze the association between PM and ALF in patients with MAFLD. Results: One-year exposure to higher levels of all PM was found to increase the risk of ALF, with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.10 (95% CI 1.06-1.14), 1.05 (1.03-1.07), and 1.03(1.02-1.04) for each 10 mu g/m(3) increase in PM1, PM2.5 and PM10, respectively. With the dissection of the impact of PM1 in PM2.5, PM2.5 in PM10 and PM1 in PM10, we found that PM2.5 had a stronger impact on ALF (both Pinteraction<0.05) in comparison with PM1 and PM10. Conclusions: Long-term exposure to PM is associated with ALF in patients with MAFLD, with PM2.5 playing a dominant role.

Automated summary

This study found a link between long-term exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) and advanced liver fibrosis (ALF) in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Higher levels of PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 were associated with an increased risk of ALF. PM2.5 had a stronger impact on ALF compared to PM1 and PM10.