The role of pharmacotherapy in improving quality of life among patients with MAFLD: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials
Year: 2026
Type: review
Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
Abstract: Background Clinical studies confirm that patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) commonly experience a significant decline in quality of life (QOL). However, existing research findings on the efficacy of drug therapies in improving their QOL remain inconsistent, and quantitative evidence from meta-analyses is lacking. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effectiveness of drug therapy in improving the QOL of patients with MAFLD. Methods We systematically searched four electronic databases from their inception to 24 October 2025. All statistical analyses were performed using Review Manager software (version 5.4). Results The meta-analysis revealed that drug intervention had a positive effect only on the Physical Component Summary (PCS) score (SMD: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.05–0.34, I 2 = 0, p-heterogeneity = 0.45). Subgroup analysis indicated that the ≤12-month drug intervention group demonstrated improvement in the Physical Component Summary score (SMD = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.03–0.46, I 2 = 0, p-heterogeneity = 0.26). Conclusion Moderate to very low-quality evidence indicates that pharmacological interventions yield a small, statistically significant improvement in the SF-36 PCS score in MAFLD patients, but this change does not meet the established minimal clinically important difference threshold for this population. To better elucidate the full impact of medications on patients’ QOL, future studies should prioritize comprehensive, multidimensional assessments of patient-reported outcomes, while remaining focused on hepatic pathology.
Source: Frontiers in Pharmacology
Language: English
Subfield: Hepatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
Award: G3758996420
OpenAlex ID: W7222927040