A Growing Health Concern: Disturbing Increase in Chronic Liver Disease Expected by 2050

byadmin •January 20, 2024

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A Growing Health Concern Disturbing Increase in Chronic Liver Disease Expected by 2050

Liver specialists are changing how they communicate about liver disease due to a surge in cases. A recent study presented at The Liver Meeting, organized by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, highlights concerning projections for the most common type of chronic liver disease over the next 25 years.

The study predicts a continuous increase in the prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This change in nomenclature aims to reduce stigma and better describe the condition's common causes, affecting over 30% of the global population. The rise in obesity and diabetes rates is identified as the primary driver behind the expected surge in MASLD cases.

Phuc Le, Ph.D., MPH, an assistant professor at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and lead researcher of the study, emphasizes the impact on liver transplantation trends. With diabetes and obesity rates climbing, MASLD is anticipated to become the leading cause of liver transplants in the U.S. Currently, hepatitis C tops the list, followed by damage from prolonged alcohol use.

Le's mathematical model forecasts a 23% increase in MASLD among U.S. adults, affecting 27.8% in 2020 and rising to 34.3% by 2050. The most severe form of the disease is expected to double, leading to nearly twice as many liver cancers annually, jumping from 10,400 new cases in 2020 to an estimated 19,300 by 2050. The need for liver transplants is also predicted to almost triple, from 1,700 cases in 2020 to an anticipated 4,200 cases in 2050.

AASLD President Norah Terrault, MD, MPH, FAASLD, stresses the silent progression of liver diseases, often showing symptoms only in advanced stages. Increased awareness becomes crucial to prevent complications, and early detection can make a significant difference. AASLD is committed to providing clinicians with the knowledge and skills necessary for improved health outcomes.

The study, titled "Projection of the Clinical Burden of NAFLD (MASLD) in US Adults from 2020-2050: A Modeling Study," was presented by Phuc Le on November 11, 2023, at The Liver Meeting.

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