M Kalligeros et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 22: 1330-1332. Prevalence of Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD, MetALD, and ALD) in the United States: NHANES 2017-2020

9698 participants in NHANES during the 2017-2020 cycle completed a transient elastography examination. After excluding patients less than 18 years, these were the key findings:

• 37.87% had steatotic liver disease
• 32.45% had MASLD
• 2.56% had MetALD
• 1.17% and ALD

Limitations: database study, lack of liver biopsy, reliance on self-reports of alcohol consumption

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M-H Lee et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 22: 1275-1285. Open Access! Chronic Viral Hepatitis B and C Outweigh MASLD in the Associated Risk of Cirrhosis and HCC

Methods: 336,866 adults aged ≥30 years were prospectively enrolled in a health screening program between 1997–2013

Key findings:

• 122,669 (36.4%) had MASLD. Over a mean follow-up of 15 years, 5562 new cases of cirrhosis and 2273 new cases of HCC were diagnosed.
• Hazard ratios for HCC were 8.86 for MASLD with HBV or HCV, compared with non-SLD without HBV or HCV
• Hazard ratios for HCC were 8.81 for HBV or HCV with non-SLD (SLD), and 1.52 for MASLD without HBV or HCV

My take: MASLD significantly increased cirrhosis and HCC risks; however the risk of HBV or HCV was much greater. The high prevalence rates of MASLD guarantees a huge need for liver disease management for the foreseeable future.

Related blog posts:

• You No Longer Have Fatty Liver Disease-You Have Steatotic Liver Disease!
• Three-fer on Steatotic Liver Disease
• Resmetirom (Rezdiffra) -FDA Approved for MASH with Moderate to Advanced Fibrosis
• Increasing Prevalence of Steatotic Liver Disease in Adolescents