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. 2024 Sep 1;30(5):310-318.
doi: 10.4103/sjg.sjg_62_24. Epub 2024 Jun 28.

The burden of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and viral hepatitis in Saudi Arabia

Saleh A Alqahtani  1   2   3 , Faisal Abaalkhail  4 , Saad Alghamdi  3 , Khalid Bzeizi  3 , Waleed K Al-Hamoudi  3   5 , James M Paik  1   6 , Linda Henry  1   6 , Bandar Al-Judaibi  3 , Faisal M Sanai  5   7 , Zobair M Younossi  1   6   8
Affiliations

The burden of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and viral hepatitis in Saudi Arabia

Saleh A Alqahtani et al. Saudi J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Background: Globally, viral hepatitis is decreasing, but nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), now metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is increasing. We assessed the burden and trends of MASLD and viral hepatitis in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: Prevalence, death, and disability data due to MASLD, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) were obtained from 2019 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database for Saudi Arabia. Time trends were assessed by annual percent change (APC) from joinpoint regression.

Results: From 2012 through 2019, MASLD prevalence in children and adults increased from 28.02% ( n = 8.34 million) to 33.11% ( n = 11.83 million); APC +2.43% (95% confidence interval: 2.33% to 2.54%). HBV prevalence decreased from 1.83% ( n = 0.54 million) to 1.53% ( n = 0.55 million); APC -1.74% (-2.66% to -0.81%). HCV prevalence stabilized from 0.72% ( n = 0.21 million) to 0.73% ( n = 0.26 million): APC +0.32% (-0.13% to 0.78%). Among adults (>20 years), MASLD prevalence increased from 40.64% to 43.95% (APC = +1.15%, 1.12% to 1.18%), HBV prevalence decreased from 2.67% to 2.05% (APC = -2.96%, -3.90% to -2.01%), and HCV leveled from 0.88% to 0.86% (APC = -0.30%, -0.75% to 0.16%). MASLD liver mortality rate from liver cancer and cirrhosis increased: APC of +1.15% (0.82% to 1.48%) from 1.31 to 1.43 (per 100,000). HBV and HCV liver mortality increased at slower rates (APC = +0.78%, 0.38% to 1.19%): 2.07 to 2.20 (per 100,000) and (APC = +0.55%, 0.09% to 0.89%): 6.32 to 6.61 (per 100,000), respectively.

Conclusions: MASLD burden is increasing, while HBV and HCV burden is decreasing/remaining stable. Early prevention and diagnosis health policies for MASLD are needed.

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Conflict of interest statement

ZY consults for or has received research funding from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cymabay, GlaxoSmithKline, Intercept, Novo Nordisk, Siemens, Madrigal, and Merck. FS consults for and is a speaker for AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, AbbVie, Roche Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, and Pfizer, and has received research funding from Gilead Sciences, AbbVie, and Roche Pharmaceuticals. All other authors have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Trends in all-age MASLD, HCV, and HBV prevalence (%) in Saudi Arabia, 2012–2019. HBV = hepatitis B virus, HCV = hepatitis C virus, MASLD = metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
Figure 2
Figure 2
Saudi Arabia all-age liver mortality due to MASLD, HCV, and HBV, 2012–2019. HBV = hepatitis B virus, HCV = hepatitis C virus, MASLD = metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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