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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Med.
Sec. Family Medicine and Primary Care
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1431935
This article is part of the Research Topic Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) - Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment View all 5 articles

Predicting Cardiometabolic disease in medical students using FibroScan and 30-year Framingham risk scores

Provisionally accepted
Charu Sharma Charu Sharma 1Muhammad J. Hashim Muhammad J. Hashim 2Javed Yasin Javed Yasin 1Mahra R. Alnaqbi Mahra R. Alnaqbi 3Abdulla S. Alkaabi Abdulla S. Alkaabi 3Mohammed S. Aldhaheri Mohammed S. Aldhaheri 3Juma M. Alkaabi Juma M. Alkaabi 1*Adnan Agha Adnan Agha 1*
  • 1 Internal Medicine Department, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
  • 2 Family Medicine Department, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
  • 3 College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, AlAin, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    function, biomarker analysis to calculate liver fibrosis risk, and subclinical atherosclerosis biomarkers. Liver stiffness measurements (LSM) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) values were measured using FibroScan 430 Mini to calculate liver fibrosis and steatosis, respectively. FS30 based on body mass index (FS30-BMI) and lipid levels (FS30-Lipid) were also calculated.Overall, 138 medical students participated in this study after providing informed consent. Using FS30-Lipid and FS30-BMI, CVD risk was identified in 2 (1.5%; n = 138) and 23 (17.6%; n = 132) individuals, respectively. MASLD fibrosis was identified based on FibroScan LSMs > 7.0 kPa in 12 medical students (9.4%, n = 128; 95% CI, 4.7-14.8%). Consumption of coffee and sugary soft drinks were predictive of liver fibrosis. In total, 36 students (28.6%; n = 128) were found to have hepatic steatosis based on FibroScan CAP values > 236 dB, and the predictive factors included increased body fat percentage, male sex, and lack of physical activity. Levels of inflammatory biomarkers, such as Creactive protein and lipids were not elevated in participants with MASLD. Discussion:CVD risk was identified in > 17% of young medical students. The frequency of liver fibrosis and steatosis was also high among the participants, indicating that liver damage starts at a relatively early age. Early intervention is needed among young adults via health promotion and lifestyle changes.

    Keywords: cardiovascular disease, Cardiovascular risk prediction, Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, Framingham risk score (FRS), Fibroscan

    Received: 13 May 2024; Accepted: 10 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Sharma, Hashim, Yasin, Alnaqbi, Alkaabi, Aldhaheri, Alkaabi and Agha. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Juma M. Alkaabi, Internal Medicine Department, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
    Adnan Agha, Internal Medicine Department, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

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