Britain is experiencing a significant increase in fatty liver disease, a condition that can lead to liver cancer and failure, according to a major study. Diagnoses have surged five-fold over the past decade, yet experts estimate that up to nine out of ten cases remain undetected.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is not linked to alcohol consumption. Instead, it is primarily driven by factors such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and excess abdominal fat. Worldwide, the condition affects an estimated 1.3 billion people, with previous research indicating that approximately one in four adults in Europe have it.
In the UK, the number of recorded diagnoses rose from 0.5% in 2012 to 2.4% in 2022, a jump attributed to increased awareness and a rise in obesity rates. The latest research analyzed GP records for nearly 12 million individuals in the UK between 2003 and 2022. During this period, annual diagnoses escalated from approximately 1,300 to over 283,000 by 2022.
Early Detection and Risk Factors
Scientists involved in the study are advocating for general practitioners (GPs) to implement routine blood tests for high-risk individuals. Early detection is crucial, as fatty liver disease can often be slowed, halted, or even reversed through weight loss and lifestyle modifications before significant damage occurs. Professor William Alazawi, a co-author of the study, highlighted that the problem is expected to worsen, particularly with increasing rates of type 2 diabetes and obesity among younger populations.
"We are seeing younger and younger people with type 2 diabetes and obesity, and these are the leading risk factors for fatty liver disease," Professor Alazawi stated. "We should be flagging these patients early, when we can intervene to prevent complications like liver failure, cancer and associated conditions like heart disease."
Individuals with MASLD were found to be nearly three times more likely to have type 2 diabetes. The study also examined the use of Fib-4 scores, a diagnostic tool that assesses liver scarring. While the number of patients receiving recommended checks for liver scarring has increased, the study noted that key blood tests are still not being performed frequently enough. Only about one in six patients in the study underwent the necessary tests.
Disparities in Care
Researchers also identified potential inequities in care. People of South Asian ethnicity were diagnosed with the condition more frequently but were the least likely to have undergone crucial diagnostic tests. This finding is concerning, as this demographic is already known to have a higher risk of both fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes.
"We know what the risk factors are," Professor Alazawi said. "Now we need the public to ask healthcare professionals, if they are overweight or have diabetes, about fatty liver."
Weight-loss medications like Mounjaro (tirzepatide) have shown promise in treating fatty liver disease, with studies indicating they can reduce liver fat, improve inflammation, and potentially reverse early-stage liver scarring.