Overview

• A nationwide Swedish study identifies metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) as tripling the risk of preterm birth, independent of maternal obesity.
• The study analyzed 240 births from women with biopsy-confirmed MASLD and 1,140 matched controls using Sweden's health registries for robust data accuracy.
• MASLD, a chronic liver condition linked to systemic inflammation and metabolic disorders, affects up to 30% of the global population, with rising prevalence among women of childbearing age.
• While MASLD increases cesarean section rates, this is attributed to higher BMI rather than the liver disease itself; no elevated risks of congenital malformations or neonatal mortality were observed.
• The findings call for routine liver health evaluation in prenatal care and revisions to clinical guidelines aimed at mitigating preterm birth risks in MASLD-affected pregnancies.