The economic burden of MASH: comparison of healthcare resource utilization and costs in patients with probable MASH, without MASH, and with diagnosed MASH

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study compared healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs between patients with probable metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and those without MASH or those with diagnosed MASH in the United States. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients from Komodo Healthcare Map data (2017-2022) were divided into 3 groups: probable MASH (hepatic steatosis index > 36 or ICD-10-CM K76.0 plus ≥ 1 cardiometabolic risk factor), diagnosed MASH (ICD-10-CM K75.81), and without MASH (none of the aforementioned characteristics). Propensity score weighting adjusted for baseline differences. HCRU and costs were calculated for all-cause, major adverse liver outcomes (MALO), and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). RESULTS: Patients with probable MASH (n = 1 549 485) had higher all-cause, MALO-related, and MACE-related HCRU than those without MASH (n = 513 862). However, patients with probable MASH had lower HCRU than those with diagnosed MASH (n = 15 000). Associated costs per patient per year were higher in patients with probable MASH vs those without MASH (rate ratio, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.26-1.28), but lower than in patients with diagnosed MASH (rate ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.67-0.72). CONCLUSIONS: HCRU and costs were higher in patients with probable MASH than in patients without MASH. Results highlight the economic burden associated with probable MASH and the importance of early diagnosis.