Published online Nov 27, 2023. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v15.i11.1210
Peer-review started: July 26, 2023
First decision: August 16, 2023
Revised: August 29, 2023
Accepted: October 30, 2023
Article in press: October 30, 2023
Published online: November 27, 2023
Processing time: 121 Days and 0.5 Hours
The incidence and prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have been rapidly increasing worldwide over the past few decades, leading to cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases (COCLDs). Cirrhosis is the leading cause of liver-related morbidity and contributes to more than 1 million deaths annually worldwide. NAFLD has become the leading cause of COCLDs.
A previous study reported the burden of liver cirrhosis caused by nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. However, no studies have focused on the epidemiology of COCLDs due to NAFLD across the globe.
We conducted a comprehensive and comparable updated analysis of the global, regional, and national levels of prevalence, death, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of COCLDs due to NAFLD in regards to age-standardized rates and numbers from 1990 to 2019, stratified by sex, age, and sociodemographic index.
Data on COCLDs due to NAFLD were collected from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019. Numbers and age-standardized prevalence, death, and DALYs were estimated through a systematic analysis of modeled data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019. Estimated annual percentage change was used to determine the burden trend.
We found that the global age-standardized prevalence rate of COCLDs due to NAFLD was 15022.90 per 100000 population in 2019, with an estimated annual percentage change of 0.78. The age-standardized death rate and age-standardized DALYs rate per 100000 population were 1.66 and 43.69 in 2019, respectively. The highest prevalence rate was observed in North Africa and the Middle East. The numbers of prevalent cases, deaths, and DALYs cases of COCLDs due to NAFLD were higher in males than in females across all age groups before the age of 65-69 years. There was a negative correlation between sociodemographic index and age-standardized DALYs rate.
COCLDs due to NAFLD have emerged as a large and growing public health burden worldwide. Globally, the ASPR has increased during the past three decades, whereas the ASDR and age-standardized DALY rate have decreased. There is geographical variation in the burden of COCLDs due to NAFLD. It is strongly recommended to improve the quality of COCLDs due to NAFLD health data across all countries and regions to facilitate better monitoring of the burden of COCLDs due to NAFLD.
We believe that the findings of this study will provide insight into the global disease burden of COCLDs due to NAFLD and assist policymakers in formulating effective policies to mitigate modifiable risk factors.