By 2018, federal data showed that 42% of adults had some form of fatty liver disease.
Steatotic liver disease (SLD) involves having excess fat in your liver. Metabolic conditions and heavy alcohol use are risk factors. Depending on the type of SLD you have, the fat buildup may not cause problems, or it may lead to liver damage. Often, you can prevent or even reverse SLD with medications and lifestyle changes.
The study was led by Dr. Juan Pablo Arab, a liver specialist with at Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health, in Richmond, Virginia. Published in October 29, 2024, it’s titled “Disparities in steatosis prevalence in the United States by Race or Ethnicity according to the 2023 criteria“.
This study estimates the prevalence of different types of fatty liver disease, in which excess fat occurs in the liver. A particular type of fatty liver disease that is not caused by excess alcohol consumption affects 42.4% of adults in the USA, with men, older adults, and Hispanics being more likely to have this form of liver disease.
These results underline the need for targeted prevention efforts in people with a higher risk of developing liver disease. There are major access problems in this disease state; the wait time to see a Hepatologist (liver disease physician) in America average 150+ days.
New health strategies are needed to discern the disease state early, reduce risk factors, and provide equitable healthcare access.
There are three main kinds of fatty liver disease: metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, caused by metabolic factors such as obesity and diabetes), alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) and a combination of both syndromes, called MetALD.
According to the American Liver Foundation, advanced liver disease can cause jaundice, fluid retention, eye trouble and brain dysfunction. Over time, liver failure and fatal kidney complications can also occur.
The VCU researchers say genetics, as well as relatively high rates of obesity and diabetes, could explain why Hispanics are especially prone to MASLD.