Intervening on Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in Latino/a and Black Patients with Diabetes: A Feasibility Pilot

Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), particularly those from historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups, are at high risk of poor outcomes from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Evidence-based management (EBM) of MASLD can prevent its progression to cirrhosis and poor outcomes, yet rates of EBM of MASLD are low in T2D. In this pilot study of ten participants, we examined the feasibility and acceptability of a telehealth intervention that delivered EBM of MASLD in Latino/a and Black patients with T2D in the Duke Healthcare System. The intervention included: (a) MASLD education; (b) diet/lifestyle counseling; (c) T2D medication adjustment (i.e., to promote liver health) and (d) ordering of clinically indicated tests and referrals. This 3-month intervention was delivered by an endocrinologist over three virtual study visits. Phone interviews were conducted at study conclusion. We examined rates of recruitment, retention, T2D medication adjustment, and ordering of clinically indicated tests/referrals. The median age of our cohort was 54.0 (44.0, 59.0); six and four participants self-identified as Latino/a ethnicity and Black race, respectively. Retention rate in this study was 100