Sleep behaviors are associated with the risk for metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. The researchers examined the association between dimensions of sleep behaviors and the risk for MAFLD in a cross-sectional study of 5,011 participants with radiologically diagnosed MAFLD. After full adjustments, including obesity, there were significant associations seen for late bedtime, snoring, and daytime napping for over 30 minutes with increased risks of MAFLD (ORs of 1.37, 1.59, and 1.17, respectively). The highest risk for MAFLD was seen for participants with disturbance in nighttime sleep and prolonged daytime napping (OR, 2.38). A 16% reduction in risk of MAFLD was seen for each additional increase of healthy sleep score. People with sedentary lifestyle and central obesity experienced more pronounced adverse effects from poor sleep quality. However, only 20.77% of the total effect of sleep quality on MAFLD risk was due to obesity.
