Understanding patient experiences with MASH symptoms and their effect on day to-day life can enhance patient-clinician discussions and facilitate patient-centered treatment and disease management, according to a real-world, noninterventional, crosssectional study published in Patient-Reported Outcomes.

The authors wrote, “Limited real-world evidence exists to better understand the patient experience of living with symptoms and impacts of MASH,” the authors wrote. “This study aimed to (1) describe patient-reported perspectives of MASH symptoms and impacts on patients’ daily lives and (2) develop a patient-centered conceptual MASH model.”

Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study in the United States utilizing semistructured qualitative interviews among adults (≥18 years) diagnosed with mild to advanced MASH (F1-F3 fibrosis) and no other liver diseases. The study team based the interview guide on a targeted literature review (TLR) and aimed to explore clinical signs, symptoms, daily impact, unmet treatment needs, and gaps in care. Study participants were queried about their personal experiences living with MASH, including symptoms, the severity of these symptoms, and the impact on daily life.

The study included 22 participants with an average age of 42.4 years, and 50% were female. Concerning patient experiences with MASH symptoms, participants most frequently reported fatigue and weakness/lethargy, at 75% and 70%, respectively. Patients described feeling exhausted without doing anything and having difficulty completing day-to-day tasks. Participants provided information regarding the impact of MASH symptoms on daily activities, with the most frequently reported being physical, psychological/emotional impacts (70% each), dietary restrictions (68.4%), and daily activities and productivity (65%).

The participants also classified most symptoms as moderately severe or severe and moderately or highly bothersome. The findings from the TLR and qualitative interviews were then merged into a conceptual model that characterizes patient-reported symptoms and impacts of MASH, clinical signs, risk factors, and unmet treatment needs.

The authors concluded that their findings offer a greater understanding of the perspectives of patients with MASH, their symptoms, and their impact on their daily lives, and the discoveries may aid in guiding patient-clinician discussions and promote the integration of patient-centered treatment decisions and disease management.

“The study proposes a holistic conceptual model that describes patients’ perspectives of living with MASH, including symptoms and their impact, the clinical signs and risk factors of MASH, and the unmet treatment needs of the disease.” wrote the authors. “Healthcare providers can use study findings to inform patientfocused decisions around treatment strategies for MASH.”