PNPLA3 and metabolic syndrome: Additionally, sensitivity analyses were performed by assessing the associations of Q1 in the development of hepatic fibrosis, in subgroups defined by the participants' age (<50 vs ≥50 years), sex (male vs female), the presence of metabolic syndrome, obesity (BMI < 25 vs ≥ 25 kg/m2) and the risk alleles of PNPLA3 and TM6SF2 using dominant models.