P3712 - Metabolic Disparities Among Hispanic and Native American Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Southwestern US Cohort

Gicel J. Aguilar, BS, DO¹, Tomas Escobar Gil, MD¹, Mariana C. Perez Maldonado, BS², Alan G.. Ortega-Macias, MD¹, Euriko Torrazza Perez, MD, MSPH¹, Erika Maestas, MD³, Eric Lawitz, MD⁴
1University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM; 2Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, San Antonio, TX; 3University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM; 4Texas Liver Institute, San Antonio, TX

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) disproportionately affects minority populations, yet limited data exist on the metabolic and behavioral risk burden among Hispanic and Native American patients in the American Southwest. We assessed demographic, comorbidity, and lifestyle patterns across ethnoracial groups in a diverse HCC cohort treated at the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 260 patients with confirmed HCC diagnosed between 2015 and 2023. Of these, 249 with complete race and ethnicity data were included in this analysis. Patients were stratified into three groups: Hispanic (n = 98), Native American (n = 32), and non-Hispanic White (n = 119). We compared age, BMI, and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension, cirrhosis, smoking, and alcohol use using Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests.

Results: Median age and BMI were similar across groups (p = 0.76 and p = 0.73, respectively). Type 2 diabetes was more prevalent among Hispanic (42.9%) and Native American (45.2%) patients compared to non-Hispanic Whites (25.6%, p = 0.002). CAD followed a similar trend, affecting 58.1% of Native American and 50.0% of Hispanic patients versus 33.3% of non-Hispanic Whites (p = 0.011). Smoking prevalence differed significantly (p = 0.025), highest among Hispanic patients (44.5%) and lowest among Native Americans (18.8%). Alcohol use was reported in over half of patients across all groups, highest among Native Americans (68.8%), but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.25). Hypertension prevalence did not differ significantly (p = 0.11). Cirrhosis was observed in 87.1% of Native American, 86.7% of Hispanic, and 89.9% of non-Hispanic White patients (p = 0.14).

Discussion: In this Southwestern cohort, Hispanic and Native American patients with HCC carried a significantly higher burden of metabolic disease and subsequent cardiovascular disease. These disparities underscore the need for targeted prevention, behavioral risk modification, and earlier liver disease screening in underserved populations.

Disclosures:
Gicel Aguilar indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Tomas Escobar Gil indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Mariana Perez Maldonado indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Alan Ortega-Macias indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Euriko Torrazza Perez indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Erika Maestas indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Eric Lawitz: 89 Bio INC – Consultant, Grant/Research Support, Speakers Bureau. Abbvie – Speakers Bureau. Akero Therapeitics – Grant/Research Support. Alnylam Phamaceuticals INC – Grant/Research Support. Amgen – Grant/Research Support. Aztrazeneca – Consultant, Grant/Research Support. Bioscience – Grant/Research Support. Boehringer Ingelheim – Consultant, Grant/Research Support. Bristol-Myers Squibb – Grant/Research Support. Corcept Therapeutics – Consultant, Grant/Research Support. Cour Pharmaceuticals Inc – Grant/Research Support. Cymabay Therapeutics – Grant/Research Support. Eli Lily and Company – Consultant, Grant/Research Support. Enanta Pharmaceuticals – Grant/Research Support. Enyo Pharma – Grant/Research Support. Exalenz – Grant/Research Support. Galectin Therapeutics – Grant/Research Support. Galmed Pharmaceuticals – Grant/Research Support. Genfit – Grant/Research Support. Gilead Sciences – Grant/Research Support, Speakers Bureau. GlaxoSmithKline – Grant/Research Support. Hanmi Pharmaceuticals – Grant/Research Support. Hightide Biopharma – Grant/Research Support. Intercept Pharmaceuticals – Grant/Research Support, Speakers Bureau. Inventiva – Grant/Research Support. Ipsen – Grant/Research Support. Jansen Pharmaceuticals – Grant/Research Support. Madrigal Pharmaceuticals – Grant/Research Support, Speakers Bureau. Merck & Co – Consultant, Grant/Research Support. NGM Biopharmaceuticals Inc – Grant/Research Support. Northsea Therapeutics – Grant/Research Support. Novartis – Grant/Research Support. Novo Nordisk Inc – Consultant, Grant/Research Support. Organovo – Consultant, Grant/Research Support. Poxel Co – Grant/Research Support. Regeneron – Consultant, Grant/Research Support. Sagimet Biosciences – Consultant, Grant/Research Support. Takeda – Grant/Research Support. Terns pharmaceuticals – Grant/Research Support. Viking Therapeutics – Grant/Research Support. Zydus Pharmaceuticals – Grant/Research Support.

Gicel J. Aguilar, BS, DO¹, Tomas Escobar Gil, MD¹, Mariana C. Perez Maldonado, BS², Alan G.. Ortega-Macias, MD¹, Euriko Torrazza Perez, MD, MSPH¹, Erika Maestas, MD³, Eric Lawitz, MD⁴. P3712 - Metabolic Disparities Among Hispanic and Native American Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Southwestern US Cohort, ACG 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. Phoenix, AZ: American College of Gastroenterology.