Prevalence and Risk Factors of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease in the Adult Georgian Population: The First Population-Based Study
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BACKGROUND & AIM: In Georgia, the prevalence of MAFLD remains poorly defined, as evidence largely stems from small-scale hospital studies. This research aims to determine the overall and region-specific prevalence of MAFLD in Georgia and analyze the factors associated with it. METHODS: A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted on 11,269 patients attending check-up clinics across Georgia from 2021 to 2025. A representative subgroup of patients (n = 6849) was selected from the larger cohort. MAFLD was diagnosed using abdominal ultrasound, Demographic, anthropometric, biochemical, and clinical data, including BMI, ALT, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. RESULTS: MAFLD affected 51.6% of Georgian adults, with higher prevalence in older age, men, and individuals with obesity or metabolic comorbidities, showing regional variation and a rising trend over the five-year study period. CONCLUSION: MAFLD is highly prevalent in Georgia, affecting more than half of adults. Its burden increases with age, male sex, obesity, and metabolic comorbidities, and varies significantly by region.