Prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease among obese, overweight, and at-risk children and adolescents in Türkiye: A meta-analysis
HEPATOLOGY FORUM, cilt.7, sa.4, ss.361-373, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus, TRDizin)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Derleme
- Cilt numarası: 7 Sayı: 4
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.14744/hf.2026.88519
- Dergi Adı: HEPATOLOGY FORUM
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, Central & Eastern European Academic Source (CEEAS), TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.361-373
- Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Background and Aim: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. Among children, the overall prevalence of MASLD is estimated at around 7%, and early manifestation is associated with a more severe prognosis. Despite this growing burden, no systematic analysis of pediatric MASLD prevalence in T & uuml;rkiye has yet been conducted. Here, we aimed to estimate the pediatric MASLD prevalence among children with specific conditions in T & uuml;rkiye. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted for studies published in English and/or Turkish between 2005 and 2023 using the databases MED-LINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and ULAKBIM.The search strategy included the following terms: "T & uuml;rkiye AND NAFLD AND Pediatric"and "T & uuml;rkiye AND NAFLD AND Prevalence AND Children AND Adolescent."The studies identified through this literature review were incorporated into the meta-analysis, which included either obese/overweight or at-risk children or adolescents with specific conditions such as increased transaminases. Results: The pooled overall prevalence of MASLD was estimated as 44.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 39.5-49.7) among at-risk children and adolescents. Heterogeneity among studies was considerable, with an I2 value of 96%, indicating substantial variability. Subgroup analysis showed a pooled prevalence of 54.9% in boys (95% CI: 48.6-61.1) and 41.2% in girls (95% CI: 35.6-46.9). Regionally, the prevalence was 49.0% (95% CI: 41.2-57.1) in the Marmara and Aegean regions, and 42.2% (95% CI: 35.3-49.1) in the Black Sea, Mediterranean, and Central Anatolian regions. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate a markedly high prevalence of MASLD among at-risk children and adolescents. These findings should serve as an alert for policymakers to adapt healthcare strategies aimed at preventing childhood obesity and MASLD.