Cumulative incidence curves demonstrated clear and progressive stratification of cardiovascular mortality among individuals with NAFLD, both by CKM stage and predicted 10-year CVD risk categories, These findings underscore the prognostic utility of CKM staging and CVD risk estimation in this population (Gray’s test P < 0.001, Supplementary Fig. S3). The gene discussed is CKM; the disease is metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.