Screening for social determinants of health among populations at risk for MASLD: A scoping review

BACKGROUND: Social determinants of health (SDoH) have been associated with disparate outcomes among those with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its risk factors. To address SDoH among this population, real-time SDoH screening in clinical settings is required, yet optimal screening methods are unclear. We performed a scoping review to describe the current literature on SDoH screening conducted in the clinical setting among individuals with MASLD and MASLD risk factors. 

METHODS: Through a systematic literature search of MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL Complete databases through 7/2023, we identified studies with clinic-based SDoH screening among individuals with or at risk for MASLD that reported pertinent clinical outcomes including change in MASLD risk factors like diabetes and hypertension. 

RESULTS: Ten studies (8 manuscripts, 2 abstracts) met inclusion criteria involving 148,151 patients: 89,408 with diabetes and 25,539 with hypertension. Screening was primarily completed in primary care clinics, and a variety of screening tools were used. The most commonly collected SDoH were financial stability, healthcare access, food insecurity and transportation. Associations between clinical outcomes and SDoH varied; overall, higher SDoH burden was associated with poorer outcomes including elevated blood pressure and hemoglobin A1c. 

CONCLUSION: Despite numerous epidemiologic studies showing associations between clinical outcomes and SDoH, and guidelines recommending SDoH screening, few studies describe in-clinic SDoH screening among individuals with MASLD risk factors and none among patients with MASLD. Future research should prioritize real-time, comprehensive assessments of SDoH, particularly among patients at risk for and with MASLD, to mitigate disease progression and reduce MASLD health disparities.