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Review
. 2021 Dec 28;9(6):972-982.
doi: 10.14218/JCTH.2021.00201. Epub 2021 Aug 30.

Epidemiology and Clinical Outcomes of Metabolic (Dysfunction)-associated Fatty Liver Disease

Huapeng Lin  1 , Xinrong Zhang  1 , Guanlin Li  1 , Grace Lai-Hung Wong  1 , Vincent Wai-Sun Wong  1
Affiliations
Review

Epidemiology and Clinical Outcomes of Metabolic (Dysfunction)-associated Fatty Liver Disease

Huapeng Lin et al. J Clin Transl Hepatol. .

Abstract

Metabolic (dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is currently the most common chronic liver disease and affects at least a quarter of the global adult population. It has rapidly become one of the leading causes of hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis in Western countries. In this review, we discuss the nomenclature and definition of MAFLD as well as its prevalence and incidence in different geographical regions. Although cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in MAFLD patients, the proportion of patients dying from hepatic complications increases sharply as the disease progresses to advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. In addition, patients with MAFLD are at increased risk of various extrahepatic cancers. Although a causal relationship between MAFLD and extrahepatic cancers has not been established, clinicians should recognize the association and consider cancer screening (e.g., for colorectal cancer) as appropriate.

Keywords: Cirrhosis; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Incidence; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; Obesity; Prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interests related to this publication.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Global prevalence of MAFLD/NAFLD.
MAFLD, metabolic (dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease; NAFLD, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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