Association of cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and glucose (CHG) index with mortality risk in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) adults: results from two prospective cohorts.

Summary

This prospective cohort study of 13,286 MASLD adults from the NHANES (1999–2018) and external validation using 2,914 individuals from the HRS cohort demonstrates a significant U-shaped nonlinear association between the CHG index and both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. The association was more pronounced in younger (under 60 years) and lean subgroups, with weight-adjusted waist index, neutrophil count and estimated glucose disposal rate identified as partial mediators of this relationship.

Regional applicability

Although this study was conducted in the United States using NHANES and HRS data, the findings are potentially relevant to United Kingdom population health monitoring given the growing prevalence of MASLD in UK adults and the clinical utility of the CHG index as a metabolic biomarker. UK adaptation would require validation in NHS cohorts and consideration of differing dietary patterns and metabolic risk profiles.

Key measures

CHG index (calculated from cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and glucose), all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, weight-adjusted waist index, neutrophil count, estimated glucose disposal rate

Outcomes reported

The study examined the association between the cholesterol-high density lipoprotein-glucose (CHG) index and all-cause mortality (ACM) and cardiovascular mortality (CVM) in MASLD adults. Over a median follow-up of 112 months, 1,688 cases of ACM and 551 cases of CVM were recorded and analysed.

Topic tags