Impact of Fatty Liver Index on Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality across Alcohol Consumption Levels in Young Adults

Background: The fatty liver index (FLI) is widely used as a surrogate marker for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, but its predictive value among individuals who consume alcohol remains uncertain. We aimed to investigate the association between FLI and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality in young adults by alcohol consumption status. Methods: Using the Korean National Health Information Database, we identified 6,487,686 individuals aged 20-39 years who underwent health examinations between 2009 and 2012. FLI was calculated using body mass index, waist circumference, triglycerides, and γ-glutamyl transferase, and categorized as