Obesity increases the risk of hepatic fibrosis in young adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: the need to screen.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in young compared with older adults.

Methods: Individuals (n = 1420) with (63%) and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D; 37%) who attended internal medicine clinics and did not have a known history of MASLD underwent laboratory evaluation and transient elastography to assess for hepatic steatosis and fibrosis. Magnetic resonance elastography and liver biopsy were recommended when indicated.