Risk Factors for Liver Fibrosis in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in Brazzaville

Introduction: Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a factor in the initiation and progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) to its severe forms with hepatic fibrosis, with a risk of progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatic fibrosis has prognostic value in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and MASLD. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for hepatic fibrosis in subjects with type 2 diabetes and MASLD in Brazzaville. Patients and Methods: Cross-sectional study and analysis were conducted over 11 months at Brazzaville University Hospital and SUZA Clinic, including patients with type 2 diabetes and MASLD who underwent non-invasive evaluation of liver fibrosis by elastometry or Fibroscan®. Results: The study included 120 patients with a median age of 56 years (50.64), with a clear female predominance. The mean duration of diabetes mellitus was 6.1 ± 5 years. Patients were treated with oral antidiabetics (53.3%) and had a mean glycated hemoglobin of 8.75 ± 1.47%. Liver fibrosis was present in 52 patients (43.3%). Advanced fibrosis was present in 32.6% of cases. Hepatic fibrosis was significantly associated with metabolic syndrome (p = 0.000), severe steatosis (p = 0.012), chronic complications of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.04), dyslipidemia (p = 0.000), and insulin therapy (p = 0.0013). Conclusion: Hepatic fibrosis is common in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and MASLD. Its presence is statistically significantly related to metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, severe steatosis, insulin therapy, and chronic complications of diabetes mellitus.