Screening for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Persons with Type 2 Diabetes in the United States Is Cost-effective: A Comprehensive Cost-Utility Analysis

Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Use in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis and Type 2 Diabetes

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Liver cirrhosis is often associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D), but research on treatment of T2D in cirrhotic patients is scarce. We investigated the long-term outcomes of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in patients with T2D and cirrhosis.

METHODS

Using propensity score matching, we selected 467 matched pairs of GLP-1 RA users and nonusers from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2019. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare the outcomes between GLP-1 RA users and nonusers.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up time was 3.28 and 3.06 years for GLP-1 RA users and nonusers, respectively. The rates of death were 27.46 and 55.90 per 1000 person-years for GLP-1 RA users and nonusers, respectively. The multivariable-adjusted models showed that GLP-1 RA users had lower risks of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32-0.69), cardiovascular events (aHR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.41-0.87), decompensated cirrhosis (aHR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.49-0.99), hepatic encephalopathy (aHR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.36-0.97), and liver failure (aHR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.34-0.85) than nonusers. A longer cumulative duration of GLP-1 RA use had a lower risk of these outcomes than GLP-1 RA nonuse.

CONCLUSIONS

This population-based cohort study showed that GLP-1 RA users exhibited a significantly lower risk of death, cardiovascular events, decompensated cirrhosis, hepatic encephalopathy, and liver failure in patients with T2D and compensated liver cirrhosis. Additional studies are needed to confirm our results.

Guideline-based management of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in the primary care setting

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasing worldwide. Primary care providers play a critical role in the screening, diagnosis, and management of MASLD and/or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), though they can face challenges in this setting, particularly where healthcare resources are limited and barriers to care exist. To address these challenges, several guidelines have been developed to provide evidence-based recommendations for the clinical assessment and management of patients with MASLD/MASH.

AIMS

To provide a unified, simple-to-understand, practical guide for MASLD screening, diagnosis, and management based on current guideline recommendations, for use by primary care providers in daily practice.

METHODS

Evidence-based recommendations from several international guidelines were summarized, focusing on the similarities and differences between them.

RESULTS

Recommendations are broadly aligned across the guidelines, but several key differences are evident. Practical guidance is provided on screening, identifying target populations for risk stratification, initial evaluation of individuals with suspected MASLD, surveillance, risk stratification and referral, as well as approaches to the management of MASLD and associated comorbidities, with specific considerations for the primary care setting.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary care providers are ideally placed to identify at-risk individuals, implement evidence-based interventions to prevent the development of fibrosis and cirrhosis, and effectively manage comorbidities. Equipping primary care providers with the necessary knowledge and tools to effectively manage MASLD/MASH may help to improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden of liver disease.

Cost-effectiveness study of FIB-4 followed by transient elastography screening strategy for advanced hepatic fibrosis in a NAFLD at-risk population

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The cost-effectiveness to screen hepatic fibrosis in at-risk population as recommended by several professional societies has been limited. This study aimed to investigate the cost-effectiveness of this screening strategy in the expanded at-risk population recently proposed by several societies.

METHODS

A combined model of the decision tree and Markov models was developed to compare expected costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) between screening and no screening groups. The model included liver disease-related health states and cardiovascular disease (CVD) states as a base-case analysis. Screening strategy consisted of fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) followed by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) and intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) as a treatment for diagnosed patients.

RESULTS

Cost-effectiveness analysis showed that screening the at-risk population entailed $298 incremental costs and an additional 0.0199 QALY per patient compared to no screening (ICER $14 949/QALY). Screening was cost-effective based on the implicit ICER threshold of $25 000/QALY in Korea. When the effects of ILI on CVD and extrahepatic malignancy were incorporated into the cost-effectiveness model, the ICER decreased by 0.85 times from the base-case analysis (ICER $12 749/QALY). In contrast, when only the effects of liver disease were considered in the model, excluding cardiovascular disease effects, ICER increased from the baseline case analysis to $16 305. Even when replacing with medical costs in Japan and U.S., it remained cost-effective with the estimate below the countries' ICER threshold.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides compelling evidence supporting the cost-effectiveness of FIB-4-based screening the at-risk population for advanced hepatic fibrosis.

Understanding the Burden of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Time for Action

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the United States is 38%, having increased by 50% within the past 3 decades. The estimated NAFLD prevalence among people with type 2 diabetes is 55-70%. The presence of type 2 diabetes is associated with a higher likelihood of progression of NAFLD to fibrosis development, liver transplant, and death. Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of mortality among people with NAFLD, and the risk of death is significantly higher in people with both NAFLD and type 2 diabetes. NAFLD carries high patient and economic burdens but low awareness among both the general public and health care providers. This article reviews the epidemiology of NAFLD and discusses the need for appropriate risk stratification, referral for specialty care, management of cardiometabolic risk factors, and treatment of the disease. The authors present a call to action to raise awareness of NAFLD and address its increasing burden in a systematic and efficient manner.

Implementation of a liver health check in people with type 2 diabetes

As morbidity and mortality related to potentially preventable liver diseases are on the rise globally, early detection of liver fibrosis offers a window of opportunity to prevent disease progression. Early detection of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease allows for initiation and reinforcement of guidance on bodyweight management, risk stratification for advanced liver fibrosis, and treatment optimisation of diabetes and other metabolic complications. Identification of alcohol-related liver disease provides the opportunity to support patients with detoxification and abstinence programmes. In all patient groups, identification of cirrhosis ensures that patients are enrolled in surveillance programmes for hepatocellular carcinoma and portal hypertension. When considering early detection strategies, success can be achieved from applying ad-hoc screening for liver fibrosis in established frameworks of care. Patients with type 2 diabetes are an important group to consider case findings of advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, as up to 19% have advanced fibrosis (which is ten times higher than the general population) and almost 70% have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Additionally, patients with type 2 diabetes with alcohol use disorders have the highest proportion of liver-related morbidity of people with type 2 diabetes generally. Patients with type 2 diabetes receive an annual diabetes review as part of their routine clinical care, in which the health of many organs are considered. Yet, liver health is seldom included in this review. This Viewpoint argues that augmenting the existing risk stratification strategy with an additional liver health check provides the opportunity to detect advanced liver fibrosis, thereby opening a window for early interventions to prevent end-stage liver disease and its complications, including hepatocellular carcinoma.

4. Comprehensive Medical Evaluation and Assessment of Comorbidities: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, an interprofessional expert committee, are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations and a full list of Professional Practice Committee members, please refer to Introduction and Methodology. Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

A prospective study on the prevalence of MASLD in people with type-2 diabetes in the community. Cost effectiveness of screening strategies

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

As screening for the liver disease and risk-stratification pathways are not established in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), we evaluated the diagnostic performance and the cost-utility of different screening strategies for MASLD in the community.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with T2DM from primary care underwent screening for liver diseases, ultrasound, ELF score and transient elastography (TE). Five strategies were compared to the standard of care: ultrasound plus abnormal liver function tests (LFTs), Fibrosis score-4 (FIB-4), NAFLD fibrosis score, Enhanced liver fibrosis test (ELF) and TE. Standard of care was defined as abnormal LFTs prompting referral to hospital. A Markov model was built based on the fibrosis stage, defined by TE. We generated the cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained and calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) over a lifetime horizon.

RESULTS

Of 300 patients, 287 were included: 64% (186) had MASLD and 10% (28) had other causes of liver disease. Patients with significant fibrosis, advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis due to MASLD were 17% (50/287), 11% (31/287) and 3% (8/287), respectively. Among those with significant fibrosis classified by LSM≥8.1 kPa, false negatives were 54% from ELF and 38% from FIB-4. On multivariate analysis, waist circumference, BMI, AST levels and education rank were independent predictors of significant and advanced fibrosis. All the screening strategies were associated with QALY gains, with TE (148.73 years) having the most substantial gains, followed by FIB-4 (134.07 years), ELF (131.68 years) and NAFLD fibrosis score (121.25 years). In the cost-utility analysis, ICER was £2480/QALY for TE, £2541.24/QALY for ELF and £2059.98/QALY for FIB-4.

CONCLUSION

Screening for MASLD in the diabetic population in primary care is cost-effective and should become part of a holistic assessment. However, traditional screening strategies, including FIB-4 and ELF, underestimate the presence of significant liver disease in this setting.

Screening, Diagnosis, and Staging of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): Application of Society Guidelines to Clinical Practice

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is the most common chronic liver disease affecting 30% of the global population. In this article, we summarize current expert guidelines, review clinical practice implications, and provide insight into the utility of non-invasive tests (NITs).

RECENT FINDINGS

The burden of MASLD is growing with the obesity epidemic, yet disease awareness and diagnosis is low. Patients can progress to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH, formerly NASH), which can advance to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation, and liver cancer. NITs help identify high-risk patients who may benefit from specialty referral and MASH-directed therapy. Global societies offer various recommendations for the screening and diagnosis of MASLD utilizing evidence-based, widely accessible methods such as serum indices, NITs, and liver biopsy. Several targeted steatotic liver disease (SLD) screening tools and novel therapies are under development.

A Machine Learning Method to Identify the Risk Factors for Liver Fibrosis Progression in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

AIM

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a silent epidemy that has become the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an advanced stage of NAFLD, which is linked to a high risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of this study is to develop a predictive model to identify the main risk factors associated with the progression of hepatic fibrosis in patients with NASH.

METHODS

A database from a multicenter retrospective cross-sectional study was analyzed. A total of 215 patients with NASH biopsy-proven diagnosed were collected. NAFLD Activity Score and Kleiner scoring system were used to diagnose and staging these patients. Noninvasive tests (NITs) scores were added to identify which one were more reliable for follow-up and to avoid biopsy. For analysis, different Machine Learning methods were implemented, being the eXtreme Gradient Booster (XGB) system the proposed algorithm to develop the predictive model.

RESULTS

The most important variable in this predictive model was High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, followed by systemic arterial hypertension and triglycerides (TG). NAFLD Fibrosis Score (NFS) was the most reliable NIT. As for the proposed method, XGB obtained higher results than the second method, K-Nearest Neighbors, in terms of accuracy (95.05 vs. 90.42) and Area Under the Curve (0.95 vs. 0.91).

CONCLUSIONS

HDL cholesterol, systemic arterial hypertension, and TG were the most important risk factors for liver fibrosis progression in NASH patients. NFS is recommended for monitoring and decision making.

Noninvasive tests in the evaluation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A review

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[Intersectoral management of patients with abnormal liver enzymes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)]

The prevalence of fatty liver disease has increased significantly in Germany in recent years. With an estimated 18 million German citizens being affected, it is now among the most prevalent diseases. Furthermore, it is also considered a relevant and independent risk factor for other common cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack or stroke. Finally, diabetes mellitus promotes the development of and an unfavorable course of fatty liver disease. Given the high prevalence and complications, the German healthcare system is reaching its limits.Therefore, close coordination of all healthcare providers and specialists involved in the treatment of these patients is essential. In an expert consensus involving private practice and hospital doctors from the fields of gastroenterology, endocrinology, cardiology, general practitioners and laboratory physicians, as well as in close coordination with patient representatives, we have designed a concept for the care of these patients in the German healthcare system. Necessary developments are also addressed. In addition to being useful as a practical guideline, this should also support health policy work, especially in the development of practical care solutions at the medical level.

Healthcare and socioeconomic costs of NAFLD: A global framework to navigate the uncertainties

Left unaddressed, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) will continue to have substantial health, economic and social implications. To address the challenge, a paradigm shift is needed in the way NAFLD is conceptualised. Concerted, collaborative action across medical specialities, industry sectors and governments will be vital in tackling this public health threat. To drive this change, in this review, we present data on the current global healthcare and socioeconomic costs of NAFLD and highlight priority actions. The estimated healthcare costs of patients with NAFLD are nearly twice as high as their age-matched counterparts without the disease and are highest in those with advanced fibrosis and end-stage liver disease. NAFLD is accountable for the highest increase in DALYs (disability-adjusted life years) among all liver diseases globally. NAFLD and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-specific drug therapies are not yet available and there is considerable uncertainty regarding cost, optimal length of treatment, and their impact on liver-related outcomes and mortality. Among the currently available bariatric procedures, sleeve gastrectomy is reported to be the most cost-effective for NASH resolution. Gastric bypass remains very expensive, while data on bariatric endoscopy are limited. Lastly, we propose a global NAFLD/NASH investment framework to guide the development of achievable yet ambitious country-specific targets and strategic actions to optimise resource allocation and reduce the prevalence of NAFLD and NASH. Its focus on high-level inputs will be critical to enabling a political and financial environment that supports clinical-level implementation of NAFLD prevention, treatment and care efforts, across all settings.

Diabetes and cirrhosis: Current concepts on diagnosis and management

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is often associated with cirrhosis as comorbidities, acute illness, medications, and other conditions profoundly alter glucose metabolism. Both conditions are closely related in NAFLD, the leading cause of chronic liver disease, and given its rising burden worldwide, management of type 2 diabetes mellitus in cirrhosis will be an increasingly common dilemma. Having diabetes increases cirrhosis-related complications, including HCC as well as overall mortality. In the absence of effective treatments for cirrhosis, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus should be systematically screened as early as possible for NAFLD-related fibrosis/cirrhosis using noninvasive tools, starting with a FIB-4 index followed by transient elastography, if available. In people with cirrhosis, an early diagnosis of diabetes is critical for an optimal management strategy (ie, nutritional goals, and glycemic targets). Diagnosis of diabetes may be missed if based on A1C in patients with cirrhosis and impaired liver function (Child-Pugh B-C) as anemia may turn the test unreliable. Clinicians must also become aware of their high risk of hypoglycemia, especially in decompensated cirrhosis where insulin is the only therapy. Care should be within multidisciplinary teams (nutritionists, obesity management teams, endocrinologists, hepatologists, and others) and take advantage of novel glucose-monitoring devices. Clinicians should become familiar with the safety and efficacy of diabetes medications for patients with advanced fibrosis and compensated cirrhosis. Management is conditioned by whether the patient has either compensated or decompensated cirrhosis. This review gives an update on the complex relationship between cirrhosis and type 2 diabetes mellitus, with a focus on its diagnosis and treatment, and highlights knowledge gaps and future directions.

Screening for At-Risk Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in the Primary Care Setting

While nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a leading cause of end-stage liver disease, most patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease do not develop cirrhosis and its complications. Therefore, risk stratification using inexpensive, noninvasive screening modalities is critical to avoid overdiagnosis and overtreatment of a large proportion of the population. In this review, we discuss the data supporting screening and current professional society recommendations on this topic. Screening for at-risk nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is recommended in patients with risk factors including diabetes, the metabolic syndrome, hepatic steatosis, and elevated aminotransferases. Screening typically consists of noninvasive testing using serum biomarkers followed by elastography using specialized imaging modalities. This sequential screening approach accurately identifies both high- and low-risk patients and is cost-effective when applied to at-risk populations. In conclusion, screening for advanced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the primary care setting is a crucial part of identifying high-risk patients who may benefit from aggressive intervention while avoiding overtreatment of patients at low risk of liver-related complications.

Increased accuracy in identifying NAFLD with advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis: independent validation of the Agile 3+ and 4 scores

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

We explored 2 novel scores, Agile 3+ and 4, to identify advanced fibrosis (≥F3) and cirrhosis (F4), respectively, in NAFLD and compared their diagnostic performances to liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by vibration-controlled transient elastography and fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) (for Agile 3+).

APPROACH AND RESULTS

This multicenter study included 548 NAFLD patients with laboratory testing, liver biopsy, and vibration-controlled transient elastography within 6 months. Agile 3+ and 4 were applied and compared with FIB-4 or LSM alone. Goodness of fit was evaluated using a calibration plot and discrimination using area under the receiver operating curve. Area under the receiver operating curves was compared using the Delong test. Dual cutoff approaches were applied to rule out and rule in ≥F3 and F4. Median (interquartile range) age was 58 (15) years. Median body mass index was 33.3 (8.5) kg/m2. Fifty-three percent had type 2 diabetes, 20% had F3, and 26% had F4. Agile 3+ demonstrated an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.85 (0.81; 0.88) similar to that of LSM [0.83 (0.79; 0.86), p=0.142] but significantly higher than that of FIB-4 [0.77 (0.73; 0.81), p<0.0001). Agile 4's area under the receiver operating curve [0.85 (0.81; 0.88)] was similar to that of LSM [0.85 (0.81; 0.88), p=0.065). However, the percentage of patients with indeterminate results was significantly lower with Agile scores compared with FIB-4 and LSM (Agile 3+: 14% vs. FIB-4: 31% vs. LSM: 13%, p<0.001; Agile 4: 23% vs. LSM: 38%, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Agile 3+ and 4 are novel vibration-controlled transient elastography-based noninvasive scores that increase accuracy in the identification of advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis respectively and are ideal for clinical use due to a lower percentage of indeterminant outputs compared with FIB-4 or LSM alone.

Cost-effectiveness of MRE versus VCTE in staging fibrosis for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients with advanced fibrosis

INTRODUCTION

NAFLD is a common cause of liver disease. To determine the optimal testing strategy for NAFLD patients with advanced fibrosis, several factors such as diagnostic accuracy, failure rates, costs of examinations, and potential treatment options need to be considered. The purpose of this study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of combination testing involving vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) versus magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) as a frontline imaging strategy for NAFLD patients with advanced fibrosis.

METHODS

A Markov model was developed from the US perspective. The base-case scenario in this model included patients aged 50 years with a Fibrosis-4 score of ≥2.67 and suspected advanced fibrosis. The model included a decision tree and a Markov state-transition model including 5 health states: fibrosis stage 1-2, advanced fibrosis, compensated cirrhosis, decompensated cirrhosis, and death. Both deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Staging fibrosis with MRE cost $8388 more than VCTE but led to an additional 1.19 Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) with the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $7048/QALY. The cost-effectiveness analysis of the 5 strategies revealed that MRE+biopsy and VCTE+MRE+biopsy were the most cost-effective with the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of $8054/QALY and $8241/QALY, respectively. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses indicated that MRE remained cost-effective with a sensitivity of ≥0.77, whereas VCTE became cost-effective with a sensitivity of ≥0.82.

CONCLUSIONS

MRE was not only cost-effective than VCTE as the frontline modality for staging NAFLD patients with Fibrosis-4 ≥2.67 with incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $7048/QALY but also remained cost-effective when used as a follow-up in instances of VCTE failure to diagnose.

Screening for NAFLD-Current Knowledge and Challenges

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of abnormal liver function tests worldwide, with an estimated prevalence ranging between 19-46% in the general population. Of note, NAFLD is also expected to become a leading cause of end-stage liver disease in the next decades. Given the high prevalence and severity of NAFLD, especially in high-risk populations (i.e., patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus and/or obesity), there is a major interest in early detection of the disease in primary care. Nevertheless, substantial uncertainties still surround the development of a screening policy for NAFLD, such as limitations in currently used non-invasive markers of fibrosis, cost-effectiveness and the absence of a licensed treatment. In this review, we summarise current knowledge and try to identify the limitations surrounding the screening policy for NAFLD in primary care.

Expert Panel Consensus on Clinical Assertion Statements Describing Noninvasive Tools for Diagnosing Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

GOALS AND BACKGROUND

A panel of 9 experts in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis gathered to assess multiple components of the diagnostic process.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Clinical Assertion Statements covered screening of patients with type 2 diabetes for high-risk nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which-if any-noninvasive tests could determine whether to delay or defer biopsy, whether primary care providers and endocrinologists should routinely calculate Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) scores in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or those at risk for it, optimal noninvasive tests to stage fibrosis, the need to consider fibrosis in patients with normal transaminase levels, periodic monitoring for progressive fibrosis, whether patients should undergo biopsy before pharmacotherapy, and the clinical utility of genetic testing.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Evidence was presented to support or refute each Clinical Assertion Statement; the panel voted on the nature of the evidence, level of support, and level of agreement with each Statement. Panel level of agreement and rationale of each Clinical Assertion Statement are reported here.

Disease Progression Modeling for Economic Evaluation in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Globally, 25% of people have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and, currently, there are no approved pharmacologic treatments for NAFLD. With a slow disease progression, long-term impact of pharmacologic treatments can be assessed only by complementing emerging clinical trial evidence with data from other sources in disease progression modeling. Although this modeling is crucial for economic evaluation studies assessing the clinical and economic consequences of new treatments, the approach to modeling the natural history of NAFLD differs in contemporary research. This systematic literature review investigated modeling of the natural history of NAFLD.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted searching PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and the National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database to identify articles focusing on modeling of the natural history of NAFLD. Model structure and transition probabilities were extracted from included studies.

RESULTS

Of the 28 articles identified, differences were seen in model structure and data input. Clear definitions of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and NAFLD often were lacking; differences in the granularity of modeling fibrosis progression, the approach to disease regression, and modeling of advanced liver disease varied across studies. Observed transition probabilities for F0 to F1, F1 to F2, F2 to F3, and F3 to compensated cirrhosis varied between 0.059 to 0.095, 0.023 to 0.140, 0.018 to 0.070, and 0.040 to 0.118, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The difference in disease progression modeling for seemingly similar models warrants further inquiry regarding how to model the natural course of NAFLD. Such differences may have a large impact when assessing the value of emerging pharmacologic treatments.

A practical use of noninvasive tests in clinical practice to identify high-risk patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

BACKGROUND

Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with type 2 diabetes (T2D) or other components of metabolic syndrome are at high risk for disease progression. We proposed an algorithm to identify high-risk NAFLD patients in clinical practice using noninvasive tests (NITs).

METHODS

Evidence about risk stratification of NAFLD using validated NITs was reviewed by a panel of NASH Experts. Using the most recent evidence regarding the performance of NITs and their application in clinical practice were used to develop an easy-to-use algorithm for risk stratification of NAFLD patients seen in primary care, endocrinology and gastroenterology practices.

RESULTS

The proposed algorithm uses a three-step process to identify NAFLD patients who are potentially at high risk for adverse outcomes. The first step is to use clinical data to identify most patients who are at risk for having potentially progressive NAFLD (e.g. having T2D or multiple components of metabolic syndrome). The second step is to calculate the FIB-4 score as a NIT that can further risk stratifying individuals who are at low risk for progressive liver disease and can be managed by their primary healthcare providers to manage their cardiometabolic comorbidities. The third step is to use second-line NITs (transient elastography or enhanced liver fibrosis tests) to identify those who at high risk for progressive liver disease and should be considered for specially care by providers with NASH expertise.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of this simple clinical algorithm can identify and assist in managing patients with NAFLD at high risk for adverse outcomes.

High prevalence of liver fibrosis among general population: a Romanian population-based study

BACKGROUND

Cirrhosis can be present undected for years prior to a symptomatic presentation. Early detection may result in improved outcomes. Data are lacking, however, regarding the yield of screening in many populations. We aimed to determined prevalence of significant liver fibrosis diagnosed by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) in apparently healthy Romanians.

METHODS

Between December 2021 and March 2022, we prospectively screened 1,027 subjects from different counties of Northeastern Romania using VCTE and B-mode ultrasonagraphy after a comprehensive medical history questionnaire. Participants with abnormal liver stiffness measurement values were further evaluated by laboratory tests to identify the severity and etiology of chronic liver disease.

RESULTS

Overall, 17.9% of subjects had liver stiffness measurments (LSM) ≥8 kpa, including 55 with LSM ≥13.0 kpa. Among these subjects, 26.1% had a history of heavy alcohol intake, 22.3% tested positive for hepatitis B and/or C infection, and 49.5% were diagnosed with NAFLD. The prevalence of elevated LSM was highest among older subjects (>60 y old) and those with diabetes. Among those with LSM ≥13 kPa and ≥9.6 kpa, FIB-4 was <2.67 in 46.9% and 87.5% respectively.

CONCLUSION

There is high prevalence of significant liver fibrosis in the Romanian general population. VCTE is a usefool tool for early detection of liver disease and appears more sensitive than FIB-4.

Screening strategy for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease, affecting approximately 25% of the general population worldwide, and is forecasted to increase global health burden in the 21st century. With the advancement of non-invasive tests for assessing and monitoring of steatosis and fibrosis, NAFLD screening is now feasible, and is increasingly highlighted in international guidelines related to hepatology, endocrinology, and pediatrics. Identifying high-risk populations (e.g., diabetes mellitus, obesity, metabolic syndrome) based on risk factors and metabolic characteristics for non-invasive screening is crucial and may aid in designing screening strategies to be more precise and effective. Many screening modalities are currently available, from serum-based methods to ultrasonography, transient elastography, and magnetic resonance imaging, although the diagnostic performance, cost, and accessibility of different methods may impact the actual implementation. A two-step assessment with serum-based fibrosis-4 index followed by imaging test vibration-controlled transient elastography can be an option to stratify the risk of liverrelated complications in NAFLD. There is a need for fibrosis surveillance, as well as investigating the cost-effectiveness of different screening algorithms and engaging primary care for first-stage triage screening.

4. Comprehensive Medical Evaluation and Assessment of Comorbidities: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2023

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, a multidisciplinary expert committee, are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations and a full list of Professional Practice Committee members, please refer to Introduction and Methodology. Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

The association of fatty liver index and BARD score with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a nationwide population-based study

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) commonly coexist. However, NAFLD's effect on mortality in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes awaits full elucidation. Therefore, we examined NAFLD-related all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a nationwide Asian population with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

We included patients who had undergone general health checkups between 2009 and 2012 using the National Health Insurance Service database linked to death-certificate data. Hepatic steatosis was defined as a fatty liver index (FLI) ≥ 60, and advanced hepatic fibrosis was determined using the BARD score.

FINDINGS

During the follow-up period of 8.1 years, 222,242 deaths occurred, with a mortality rate of 14.3/1000 person-years. An FLI ≥ 60 was significantly associated with increased risks of all-cause and cause-specific mortality including cardiovascular disease (CVD)-, cancer-, and liver disease (FLI ≥ 60: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.03 for all-cause; 1.07, 1.04-1.10 for CVD; 1.12, 1.09-1.14 for cancer; and 2.63, 2.50-2.77 for liver disease). Those with an FLI ≥ 60 and fibrosis (BARD ≥ 2) exhibited increased risks of all-cause (HR, 95% CI 1.11, 1.10-1.12), CVD- (HR, 95% CI 1.11, 1.09-1.14), cancer- (HR, 95% CI 1.17, 1.15-1.19), and liver disease-related (HR, 95% CI 2.38, 2.29-2.49) mortality.

CONCLUSION

Hepatic steatosis and advanced fibrosis were significantly associated with risks of overall and cause-specific mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. Our results provide evidence that determining the presence of hepatic steatosis and/or fibrosis potentially plays a role in risk stratification of mortality outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease screening in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cost-effectiveness and price threshold analysis

Introduction: The cost-effectiveness of screening asymptomatic non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients remains debatable, with current studies assuming lifelong benefits of NAFLD screening while neglecting cardiovascular outcomes. This study aims to assess the cost-effectiveness of NAFLD screening among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, and to establish a price threshold for NAFLD treatment, when it becomes available. Method: A Markov model was constructed comparing 4 screening strategies (versus no screening) to identify NAFLD with advanced fibrosis among T2DM patients: fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE), FIB-4 and VCTE (simultaneous), and FIB-4 and VCTE (sequential). Sensitivity analyses and price threshold analyses were performed to assess parameter uncertainties in the results. Results: VCTE was the most cost-effective NAFLD screening strategy (USD24,727/quality-adjusted life year [QALY]), followed by FIB-4 (USD36,800/QALY), when compared to no screening. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis revealed a higher degree of certainty for VCTE as a cost-effective strategy compared to FIB-4 (90.7% versus 73.2%). The duration of expected screening benefit is the most influential variable based on incremental cost-effectiveness ratio tornado analysis. The minimum duration of screening benefit for NAFLD screening to be cost-effective was at least 2.6 years. The annual cost of NAFLD treatment should be less than USD751 for NAFLD screening to be cost-effective. Conclusion: Both VCTE and FIB-4 are cost-effective NAFLD screening strategies among T2DM patients in Singapore. However, given the lack of access to VCTE at primacy care and potential budget constraints, FIB-4 can also be considered for NAFLD screening among T2DM patients in Singapore. Keywords: Cost-effectiveness analysis, fatty liver, screening, liver fibrosis, population health

Accuracy of Non-invasive Indices for Diagnosing Hepatic Steatosis Compared to Imaging in a Real-World Cohort

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is common and under-diagnosed. This study evaluated the accuracy of several previously reported indices, including hepatic steatosis index, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) method, Framingham steatosis index, and Dallas steatosis index, to diagnose hepatic steatosis in a real-world cohort.

METHODS

This study included 701 randomly selected adult patients seen in our integrated healthcare system between 2015 and 2020 with appropriate abdominal imaging and routine outpatient laboratory studies. Information on demographics, comorbidities and existing liver disease, anthropometrics, laboratory studies, and abdominal imaging was collected. The sensitivity, specificity, and C-statistic of each method in detecting hepatic steatosis based on abdominal imaging were determined.

RESULTS

202/701 patients (28.8%) had hepatic steatosis on abdominal imaging. These patients were more likely to have metabolic syndrome components and higher body mass index. All indices performed similarly with moderate accuracy in detecting hepatic steatosis based on the C-statistic (95% confidence interval): Hepatic steatosis index 0.76 (0.72-0.79), Framingham steatosis index 0.78 (0.74-0.82), and Dallas steatosis index 0.80 (0.76-0.83). ALT method had sensitivity 44.7% (36.9-52.7%) and specificity 88.6% (85.0-91.7%). Several sensitivity analyses were performed, which did not significantly alter the performance of any index.

CONCLUSION

The findings support both the clinical utility of these indices in diagnosing hepatic steatosis in the absence of imaging in real-world settings and the research utility of these indices in generating reliable electronic medical record-based nonalcoholic fatty liver disease cohorts.

Risk Prevention and Health Promotion for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases (NAFLD)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a serious clinicopathological condition that is recognized as the most frequent chronic liver disease, affecting 14–30% of the world’s population. The prevalence of NAFLD has rapidly grown and is correlated with the growth in obesity and type 2 diabetes, among other factors. NAFLD often results in long-term complications including cardiovascular disease, liver cirrhosis, and liver fibrosis. This paper provides an updated overview of NAFLD with a focus on epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, screening, complications, and pharmacological therapies to identify effective risk prevention and health promotion.

Worldwide long-term trends in the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease during 1990–2019: A joinpoint and age-period-cohort analysis

Background

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was previously a neglected disease that is now becoming a worldwide pandemic. A better understanding of its incidence and long-term trends will help to increase public awareness of the disease and the development of future prevention strategies.

Methods

The incidence rates of NAFLD during 1990–2019 were collected from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 database according to the following parameters: sex, age, socio-demographic index, and geographical region. Estimated annual percentage changes and joinpoint models were used to assess the long-term trend of NAFLD, and an age-period-cohort model was used to assess the extents of the age, period, and cohort effects.

Results

Adult males, postmenopausal females, Latin American populations, and people in developing countries had a high risk of developing NAFLD. The joinpoint model indicated a new trend of increasing NAFLD incidence in 2005. Age was a risk factor affecting NAFLD incidence, with this effect increasing in more-recent periods. Younger birth cohorts had lower risks of NAFLD.

Conclusions

Recent prevention measures for NAFLD have achieved good initial results. However, it remains a high priority to increase the public awareness of this condition, develop its diagnostic criteria, identify cost-effective screening methods, and seek policy support to act against NAFLD, which will be a major public health problem in the future.

AGA Clinical Practice Update: Diagnosis and Management of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Lean Individuals: Expert Review

DESCRIPTION

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is well recognized as a leading etiology for chronic liver disease, affecting >25% of the US and global populations. Up to 1 in 4 individuals with NAFLD have nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality due to complications of liver cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although NAFLD is observed predominantly in persons with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus, an estimated 7%-20% of individuals with NAFLD have lean body habitus. Limited guidance is available to clinicians on appropriate clinical evaluation in lean individuals with NAFLD, such as for inherited/genetic disorders, lipodystrophy, drug-induced NAFLD, and inflammatory disorders. Emerging data now provide more robust evidence to define the epidemiology, natural history, prognosis, and mortality of lean individuals with NAFLD. Multiple studies have found that NAFLD among lean individuals is associated with increased cardiovascular, liver, and all-cause mortality relative to those without NAFLD. This American Gastroenterological Association Clinical Practice Update provides Best Practice Advice to assist clinicians in evidence-based approaches to the diagnosis, staging, and management of NAFLD in lean individuals.

METHODS

This expert review was commissioned and approved by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute Clinical Practice Updates Committee and the AGA Governing Board to provide timely guidance on a topic of high clinical importance to the AGA membership and underwent internal peer review by the Clinical Practice Updates Committee and external peer review through standard procedures of Gastroenterology. Best Practice Advice Statements BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 1: Lean NAFLD should be diagnosed in individuals with NAFLD and body mass index <25 kg/m2 (non-Asian race) or body mass index <23 kg/m2 (Asian race). BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 2: Lean individuals with NAFLD should be evaluated routinely for comorbid conditions, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 3: Lean individuals with NAFLD should be risk stratified for hepatic fibrosis to identify those with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 4: Lean individuals in the general population should not undergo routine screening for NAFLD; however, screening should be considered for individuals older than 40 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 5: NAFLD should be considered in lean individuals with metabolic diseases (such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and hypertension), elevated liver biochemical tests, or incidentally noted hepatic steatosis. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 6: Clinicians should query patients routinely regarding alcohol consumption patterns in all patients with lean NAFLD. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 7: In patients with lean NAFLD, other causes of liver disease should be ruled out, including other causes of fatty liver, such as HIV, lipodystrophy, lysosomal acid lipase deficiency, familial hypobetalipoproteinemia, and medication-induced hepatic steatosis (methotrexate, amiodarone, tamoxifen, and steroids). BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 8: Current evidence is inadequate to support routine testing for genetic variants in patients with lean NAFLD. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 9: Liver biopsy, as the reference standard, should be considered if there is uncertainty regarding contributing causes of liver injury and/or the stage of liver fibrosis. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 10: Serum indices (NAFLD fibrosis score and Fibrosis-4 score) and imaging techniques (transient elastography and magnetic resonance elastography) may be used as alternatives to liver biopsy for fibrosis staging and patient follow-up. These tests can be performed at the time of diagnosis and repeated at intervals of 6 months to 2 years, depending on fibrosis stage and the patient's response to intervention. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 11: If noninvasive tests (eg, Fibrosis-4 and NAFLD fibrosis score) are indeterminate, a second noninvasive test (eg, transient elastography or magnetic resonance elastography) should be performed to confirm the stage and prognosis of NAFLD. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 12: In lean patients with NAFLD, lifestyle intervention, including exercise, diet modification, and avoidance of fructose- and sugar-sweetened drinks, to target a modest weight loss of 3%-5% is suggested. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 13: Administration of vitamin E may be considered in lean persons with biopsy-confirmed nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, but without type 2 diabetes mellitus or cirrhosis. Oral pioglitazone 30 mg daily may be considered in lean persons with biopsy-confirmed nonalcoholic steatohepatitis without cirrhosis. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 14: The therapeutic role of glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in the management of lean NAFLD is not fully defined and requires further investigation. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 15: Hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance with abdominal ultrasound with or without serum α-fetoprotein twice per year is suggested in patients with lean NAFLD and clinical markers compatible with liver cirrhosis.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Its Complex Relation with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus—From Prevalence to Diagnostic Approach and Treatment Strategies

Prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) are increasing rapidly worldwide, reaching epidemic proportions. Their association, based on common metabolic risk factors (obesity, insulin resistance (IR), unhealthy lifestyle), brings an additional risk of both hepatic and cardiovascular (CV) adverse clinical outcomes. The terminology of “NAFLD” is stigmatizing to some but not all patients, and a more practical one should be announced soon. Medical strategies can address both diseases simultaneously, as they have crossing pathophysiological mechanisms, mainly IR. Strategies vary from lifestyle intervention and pharmacological options, as more molecules designated for T2DM treatment may be helpful in NAFLD, to surgical procedures. This review focuses on the coexistence of NAFLD and T2DM, pointing out the utility of the appropriate terminology, its prevalence, and mortality rates among the diabetic population. Briefly, we have discussed the main pathophysiological mechanisms and the risk stratification algorithm for the development of NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) as well as the tools for evaluation of fibrosis. Finally, we have focused on the current therapeutic options for the treatment of NAFLD associated with T2DM.

Gut Microbiota—A Future Therapeutic Target for People with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents an increasing cause of liver disease, affecting one-third of the population worldwide. Despite many medications being in the pipeline to treat the condition, there is still no pharmaceutical agent licensed to treat the disease. As intestinal bacteria play a crucial role in the pathogenesis and progression of liver damage in patients with NAFLD, it has been suggested that manipulating the microbiome may represent a therapeutical option. In this review, we summarise the latest evidence supporting the manipulation of the intestinal microbiome as a potential therapy for treating liver disease in patients with NAFLD.

Predicting NAFLD prevalence in the United States using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018 transient elastography data and application of machine learning

This cohort analysis investigated the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and NAFLD with fibrosis at different stages, associated clinical characteristics, and comorbidities in the general United States population and a subpopulation with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database (2017-2018). Machine learning was explored to predict NAFLD identified by transient elastography (FibroScan^® ). Adults ≥20 years of age with valid transient elastography measurements were included; those with high alcohol consumption, viral hepatitis, or human immunodeficiency virus were excluded. Controlled attenuation parameter ≥302 dB/m using Youden's index defined NAFLD; vibration-controlled transient elastography liver stiffness cutoffs were ≤8.2, ≤9.7, ≤13.6, and >13.6 kPa for F0-F1, F2, F3, and F4, respectively. Predictive modeling, using six different machine-learning approaches with demographic and clinical data from NHANES, was applied. Age-adjusted prevalence of NAFLD and of NAFLD with F0-F1 and F2-F4 fibrosis was 25.3%, 18.9%, and 4.4%, respectively, in the overall population and 54.6%, 32.6%, and 18.3% in those with T2DM. The highest prevalence was among Mexican American participants. Test performance for all six machine-learning models was similar (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.79-0.84). Machine learning using logistic regression identified male sex, hemoglobin A1c, age, and body mass index among significant predictors of NAFLD (P ≤ 0.01). Conclusion: Data show a high prevalence of NAFLD with significant fibrosis (≥F2) in the general United States population, with greater prevalence in participants with T2DM. Using readily available, standard demographic and clinical data, machine-learning models could identify subjects with NAFLD across large data sets.

Patient-centered care: Key elements applicable to chronic liver disease

Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a progressive illness with high symptom burden and functional and cognitive impairment, often with comorbid mental and substance use disorders. These factors lead to significant deterioration in quality of life, with immense burden on patients, caregivers, and healthcare. The current healthcare system in the United States does not adequately meet the needs of patients with CLD or control costs given the episodic, reactive, and fee-for-service structure. There is also a need for clinical and financial accountability for CLD care. In this context, we describe the key elements required to shift the CLD care paradigm to a patient-centered and value-based system built upon the Porter model of value-based health care. The key elements include (1) organization into integrated practice units, (2) measuring and incorporating meaningful patient-reported outcomes, (3) enabling technology to allow innovation, (4) bundled care payments, (5) integrating palliative care within routine care, and (6) formalizing centers of excellence. These elements have been shown to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and improve overall patient experience for other chronic illnesses and should have similar benefits for CLD. Payers need to partner with providers and systems to build upon these elements and help align reimbursements with patients' values and outcomes. The national organizations such as the American Association for Study of Liver Diseases need to guide key stakeholders in standardizing these elements to optimize patient-centered care for CLD.

An exploration of barriers and facilitators to implementing a nonalcoholic fatty liver disease pathway for people with type 2 diabetes in primary care

AIMS

We explored barriers and facilitators to the implementation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathway for people with diabetes to identify determinants of behaviour surrounding the diagnosis, assessment and management of NAFLD.

METHODS

Health practitioners (n = 24) recruited from multidisciplinary diabetes clinics in primary care (n = 3) and hospital (n = 1) settings participated in four focus group discussions, and common themes were identified using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Lack of knowledge and access to resources were key factors that underpinned an inconsistent approach by clinicians to NAFLD diagnosis and risk stratification and impacted their confidence to discuss the diagnosis with patients. Participants often prioritised other medical issues above NAFLD due to lack of concern about liver-related consequences, reluctance to overburden patients with information, lack of time and perceived absence of accessible fibrosis tests. All participants agreed that implementation of a NAFLD pathway would improve patient care and the general practitioners proposed that screening for NAFLD could be incorporated into routine review cycles for type 2 diabetes. A consistent message from participants was that educating patients about their liver disease needs to be implemented in an integrated care pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

From the perspectives of health practitioners, there is a gap in clinical practice for the implementation of clear, evidence-based guidelines for NAFLD in people with T2D. By focusing on comorbidity prevention and integrating NAFLD as a diabetes complication to be addressed during established cycles of care, many barriers to implementing a NAFLD pathway in primary care could be overcome.

American Association of Clinical Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Primary Care and Endocrinology Clinical Settings: Co-Sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)

OBJECTIVE

To provide evidence-based recommendations regarding the diagnosis and management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to endocrinologists, primary care clinicians, health care professionals, and other stakeholders.

METHODS

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinology conducted literature searches for relevant articles published from January 1, 2010, to November 15, 2021. A task force of medical experts developed evidence-based guideline recommendations based on a review of clinical evidence, expertise, and informal consensus, according to established American Association of Clinical Endocrinology protocol for guideline development.

RECOMMENDATION SUMMARY

This guideline includes 34 evidence-based clinical practice recommendations for the diagnosis and management of persons with NAFLD and/or NASH and contains 385 citations that inform the evidence base.

CONCLUSION

NAFLD is a major public health problem that will only worsen in the future, as it is closely linked to the epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Given this link, endocrinologists and primary care physicians are in an ideal position to identify persons at risk on to prevent the development of cirrhosis and comorbidities. While no U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved medications to treat NAFLD are currently available, management can include lifestyle changes that promote an energy deficit leading to weight loss; consideration of weight loss medications, particularly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists; and bariatric surgery, for persons who have obesity, as well as some diabetes medications, such as pioglitazone and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, for those with type 2 diabetes mellitus and NASH. Management should also promote cardiometabolic health and reduce the increased cardiovascular risk associated with this complex disease.

Rising Healthcare Costs and Utilization among Young Adults with Cirrhosis in Ontario: A Population-Based Study

OBJECTIVES

Chronic diseases account for the majority of healthcare spending. Cirrhosis is a chronic disease whose burden is rising, especially in young adults. This study aimed at describing the direct healthcare costs and utilization in young adults with cirrhosis compared to other chronic diseases common to this age group.

METHODS

Retrospective population-based study of routinely collected healthcare data from Ontario for the fiscal years 2007-2016 and housed at ICES. Young adults (aged 18-40 years) with cirrhosis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and asthma were identified based on validated case definitions. Total and annual direct healthcare costs and utilization were calculated per individual across multiple healthcare settings and compared based on the type of chronic disease. For cirrhosis, the results were further stratified by etiology and decompensation status.

RESULTS

Total direct healthcare spending from 2007 to 2016 increased by 84% for cirrhosis, 50% for IBD, and 41% for asthma. On a per-patient basis, annual costs were the highest for cirrhosis ($6,581/year) compared to IBD ($5,260/year), and asthma ($2,934/year) driven by acute care in cirrhosis and asthma, and drug costs in IBD. Annual costs were four-fold higher in patients with decompensated versus compensated cirrhosis ($20,651/year vs. $5,280/year). Patients with cirrhosis had greater use of both ICU and mental health services.

CONCLUSION

Healthcare costs in young adults with cirrhosis are rising and driven by the use of acute care. Strategies to prevent the development of cirrhosis and to coordinate healthcare in this population through the development of chronic disease prevention and management strategies are urgently needed.

Using Telehealth for Diagnosis and Management of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Content available: Author Interview and Author Audio Recording.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease - How relevant is this to primary care physicians and diabetologists?

Metabolic-dysfunction associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a newly introduced entity hoping to more precisely define fatty liver disease. Despite the controversies surrounding MAFLD, the definition is getting more widely accepted by the global liver-health community. MAFLD represents a cohort of patients enriched with more advanced liver disease, cardio-renal and metabolic complications with increased mortality. This review aims to provide all primary care physicians and diabetologists with a clinical management update from a non-hepatologist's perspective, and a summary of important findings from recent studies to raise disease awareness and highlight the relevance of MAFLD to their daily clinical practice.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes - An Update

The global prevalence of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rising, along with the epidemic of diabesity. NAFLD is present in >70% of individuals with type 2 diabetes. Although the mutually detrimental relationship between NAFLD and type 2 diabetes has been well established, a multitude of recent studies have further shown that type 2 diabetes is closely linked to the development of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver‐related morbidity and mortality. In contrast, NAFLD also negatively impacts type 2 diabetes both in terms of its incidence and related adverse clinical outcomes, including cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases. In response to these global health threats, clinical care pathways for NAFLD and guidelines for metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease have been developed. Several antidiabetic agents have been evaluated for their potential hepatic benefits with promising results. Furthermore, type 2 diabetes patients are increasingly represented in clinical trials of novel therapeutics for NAFLD. However, despite the wealth of knowledge in NAFLD and type 2 diabetes, lack of awareness of the disease and the potential weight of this problem remains a major challenge, especially among clinicians who are outside the field of hepatology and gastroenterology. This review therefore aimed to provide all diabetes care providers with a summary of the latest evidence that supports NAFLD as an emerging diabetic complication of increasing importance, and to present the current recommendations, focusing on the assessment and therapeutic strategies, on the management of NAFLD among type 2 diabetes patients.

The Emerging Role of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for the Management of NAFLD

CONTEXT

The burden of cirrhosis from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is reaching epidemic proportions in the United States. This calls for greater awareness among endocrinologists, who often see but may miss the diagnosis in adults with obesity or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) who are at the highest risk. At the same time, recent studies suggest that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are beneficial vs nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in this population. This minireview aims to assist endocrinologists to recognize the condition and recent work on the role of GLP-1RAs in NAFLD/NASH.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Evidence from observational studies, randomized controlled trials, and meta-analyses.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Endocrinologists should lead multidisciplinary teams to implement recent consensus statements on NAFLD that call for screening and treatment of clinically significant fibrosis to prevent cirrhosis, especially in the high-risk groups (ie, people with obesity, prediabetes, or T2D). With no US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved agents, weight loss is central to successful management, with pharmacological treatment options limited today to vitamin E (in people without T2D) and diabetes medications that reverse steatohepatitis, such as pioglitazone or GLP-1RA. Recently, the benefit of GLP-1RAs in NAFLD, suggested from earlier trials, has been confirmed in adults with biopsy-proven NASH. In 2021, the FDA also approved semaglutide for obesity management.

CONCLUSION

A paradigm change is developing between the endocrinologist's greater awareness about their critical role to curve the epidemic of NAFLD and new clinical care pathways that include a broader use of GLP-1RAs in the management of these complex patients.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-related hepatocellular carcinoma growth rates and their clinical outcomes

Aim:

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is projected to become the leading indication for liver transplantation. Previous studies indicate that tumor growth rates (TGR) may predict survival and were helpful in determining HCC surveillance intervals. Therefore, we aimed to determine its usefulness in predicting clinical outcomes and treatments.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective study of hepatitis B, C and NAFLD-HCC cases. TGR was measured using 2-consecutive pre-treatment contrast-enhanced imaging studies ≥ 25 days apart. A multivariate regression model was used to determine predictors of TGR. In addition, the Cox regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between TGR and overall survival.

Results:

From 2000–2019, the study cohort comprised 38, 60, and 47 HBV, HCV, and NAFLD patients, respectively, with TGRs. NAFLD-HCC tumor size was inversely correlated to the extent of liver disease as measured by Child-Pugh score (7.2 cm in non-cirrhosis; 3.7 cm, 2.6 cm, and 2.1 cm in Child A, B, and C, respectively; P < 0.001). After adjusting for baseline characteristics, the TGR per month was fastest in HBV (9.4%, 95%CI: 6.3%-12.5%) compared to HCV (4.9%, 95%CI: 2.8%-7%) and NAFLD patients (3.6%, 95%CI: 1.6%-6.7%). Predictors of TGR included elevated AFP, low albumin, and smaller tumor size. Fast TGR in viral etiologies had higher mortality [adj. hazard ratio (HR) = 2.6, 95%CI: 1.2–5.7, P = 0.02] than slow TGRs, independent of treatments. Fast TGR in NAFLD had a trend towards higher mortality (HR = 3.6, 95%CI: 0.95–13.3, P = 0.059).

Conclusion:

NAFLD-HCC patients have more indolent growths than viral-related HCC TGRs. The addition of TGR as a biomarker may assist in stratifying treatment options.

Fatty Liver Disease: Diagnosis and Stratification

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major public health crisis affecting approximately 25% of the world's population. The spectrum of NAFLD ranges from bland steatosis to steatohepatitis with fibrosis; eventual development of cirrhosis in a subgroup of patients now represents the leading indication for liver transplant in women and in individuals older than 65. The development of noninvasive liver disease assessment tools has led to substantial progress in the diagnosis of NAFLD. Patients with NAFLD are at increased risk of cardiometabolic disease, which should therefore be an important part of the therapeutic approach. This review focuses on diagnosis and risk stratification of NAFLD across the full spectrum of disease, including important considerations in the approach to patients with cirrhosis. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Medicine, Volume 73 is January 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.