A study from National Taiwan University Hospital has unveiled how metabolic dysfunction significantly influences the mortality risks of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The research, recently published in the Journal of Hepatology, analyzed data from over 8,000 CHB patients over a 15-year period, highlighting the crucial role of metabolic health in liver disease outcomes.

The study found that CHB patients with concurrent steatotic liver disease (SLD) face a complex relationship between metabolic dysfunction and long-term survival. Those with metabolic disorders—such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity—exhibited a markedly higher risk of all-cause, liver-related, and cardiovascular mortality. Notably, a higher cumulative metabolic burden was associated with a dose-dependent increase in mortality risks.