A comprehensive study published in the journal of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology highlights the alarming rise of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) worldwide by emphasizing the impact on mortality. The study explored the independent associations of NAFLD with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in older adults residing in the US.

This research was conducted with data from the Rancho Bernardo Study cohort which spanned from 1992 to 1996. The mortality data was tracked up until July 2019 and the study included a total of 1523 participants with a mean age of 71.8 years. 26.4% were diagnosed with NAFLD. Over 23,311 person-years of follow-up, individuals with NAFLD exhibited a 26% higher all-cause mortality risk (HR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.08–1.47).

NAFLD was independently associated with a 33% higher risk of cardiac mortality (HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.04–1.70) and 55% increase in cancer mortality (HR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.11–2.15) when compared to those without NAFLD. Also, 13.9% of all deaths, 6.2% of cardiac deaths, and 12.1% of cancer deaths were attributable to NAFLD after adjusting for risk factors such as sedentary lifestyle, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes.
The study underscores that NAFLD is prevalent and independently associated with higher all-cause, cardiac, and cancer mortality rates in older adults. The findings highlight the need for continued efforts to increase awareness about NAFLD and the imperative to develop care pathways and public health initiatives to reduce the burden of NAFLD and the mortality associated. Proactive measures and public health strategies are critical in addressing this silent threat to longevity and well-being among older populations in this current state of rising global prevalence of NAFLD.

Source:
de Avila, L., Henry, L., Paik, J. M., Ijaz, N., Weinstein, A. A., & Younossi, Z. M. (2023). Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Is Independently Associated With Higher All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality. In Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (Vol. 21, Issue 10, pp. 2588-2596.e3). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2023.01.006