Racial, ethnic disparities in liver disease rates

A study has examined the prevalence of liver disease in the United States.

In the cross-sectional study, published in Communications Medicine, investigators analyzed the outcomes of more than 5,500 participants from the 2017 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to determine the prevalence of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease and alcohol-associated liver disease in different racial and ethnic groups.

The investigators found that MASLD, ALD and overlapping MASLD and ALD affected more than 42%, 0.5% and 1.5% of the participants, respectively. Hispanic patients had a heightened risk of MASLD as well as a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity.

The findings provided insights into the prevalence of liver disease, particularly among Hispanic and older patient populations. Further studies may be needed to better assess the burden of MASLD and ALD in the United States.

Read more: Communications Medicine

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