Anxiety and depression in metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease: relation with socio-demographic features and liver disease severity

We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety and depression traits in Italian patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and the possible relation with the severity of liver disease. Demographic, anthropometric, clinical and laboratory parameters were collected in patients referred to a metabolic unit for a comprehensive evaluation of possible liver disease. Hepatic steatosis and fibrosis were evaluated by surrogate biomarkers. Imaging (controlled attenuation parameter-CAP and vibration-controlled transient elastography-VCTE). Beck depression inventory (BDI) and state-trait anxiety inventory-Y (STAI-Y) were used to define depressive/anxiety states; calorie intake and lifestyle were self-assessed by questionnaires. The whole sample comprised 286 patients (61.9