Jenneffer Tibaes

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a common chronic condition often requiring multiple medications due to associated comorbidities. Polypharmacy has been associated with adverse clinical outcomes, including increased risk of drug-related complications and reduced quality of life (QoL). This systematic review and meta-analysis provides a comprehensive assessment of polypharmacy prevalence in MASLD, estimating a pooled prevalence of 65%.

Abstract Introduction Rising rates of obesity in the UK poses a significant public health concern. Conventional interventions centred around individual responsibility have yielded limited success, resulting in obesity rates doubling since 1990. The Obesity Blueprint project, led by Nesta, aims to consolidate existing evidence regarding the impact of interventions for obesity, and model these impact on a single outcome of interest.

Discussion This review highlights the high prevalence of polypharmacy among adults with MASLD, with a pooled rate of 81% across three studies totalling 2194 participants. Similar trends are seen in other chronic conditions, with a systematic review reporting a 50% prevalence in individuals with diabetes,26 and research on chronic liver disease (CLD) showing a 31% prevalence.27 These findings highlight the widespread occurrence of polypharmacy across chronic conditions.