Feeling tired and unwell? Signs of middle-age disease that’s soared five-fold
CASES of a certain type of liver disease have surged five-fold in just a decade, shock new figures suggest.
TL;DR
- MASLD cases have increased five-fold in the UK over the last decade.
- Around 1.3 billion people worldwide are estimated to have MASLD.
- MASLD is caused by excess fat buildup in the liver and is not linked to heavy drinking.
- Symptoms include fatigue, feeling unwell, and abdominal pain.
- Risk factors include being overweight, inactive, having type 2 diabetes, being over 50, and high blood pressure.
- South Asian ethnicity is overrepresented in MASLD diagnoses.
- A diagnostic gap exists, with many cases missed by healthcare professionals.
- MASLD can progress to inflammation, scarring (fibrosis), cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.
- Early stages of MASLD can be reversed with lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet, physical activity, and weight loss.