Silent Epidemic: Liver Disease Cases Skyrocket, Poised to Affect 1.8 Billion by 2050

A concerning global health crisis is unfolding as metabolic dysfunction associated with steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as NAFLD, is on an unstoppable rise. Projections indicate that by 2050, a staggering 1.8 billion individuals worldwide could be affected, a dramatic increase fueled by the escalating rates of obesity and elevated blood sugar levels.

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Metabolička bolest jetre mogla bi do 2050. godine pogoditi čak 1,8 milijardi ljudi diljem svijeta, potaknuta rastućom stopom pretilosti i povišenom razinom šećera u krvi.

This "silent epidemic" is already impacting around 1.3 billion people, marking a 143% surge in just three decades. The data, derived from the Global Burden of Diseases study and published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, reveals that the number of cases has more than doubled since 1990. This growth is attributed to population increases and significant shifts in lifestyle, particularly the global rise in obesity and poor dietary habits.

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Trenutno pogađa oko 1,3 milijarde ljudi, što predstavlja porast od čak 143 % u posljednjih trideset godina.

While the disease is more prevalent in older age groups, a significant concern is its increasing incidence among younger adults. High blood sugar levels have been identified as the primary driver of MASLD, followed closely by high Body Mass Index (BMI) and smoking. Although advancements in treatment mean the overall health impact, measured in years lost, remains stable, the sheer volume of new cases raises the risk of severe complications like cirrhosis and liver cancer. The good news is that MASLD is often preventable and treatable through lifestyle modifications, emphasizing the critical need for public health awareness and intervention.

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Visoka razina šećera u krvi identificirana je kao glavni uzrok zdravstvenih problema povezanih s MASLD-om, a slijede visoki indeks tjelesne mase (BMI) i pušenje.