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Semin Liver Dis 2023; 43(02): 142-148
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1770984
Review Article

How to Identify Advanced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in the Primary Care Setting

Pegah Golabi
1   Betty and Guy Beatty Center for Integrated Research, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia
2   Department of Medicine, Center for Liver Disease, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church, Virginia
3   Inova Medicine, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia
,
Dipam Shah
2   Department of Medicine, Center for Liver Disease, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church, Virginia
,
Zobair M. Younossi
1   Betty and Guy Beatty Center for Integrated Research, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia
2   Department of Medicine, Center for Liver Disease, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church, Virginia
3   Inova Medicine, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia
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Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects 30 to 40% of the population globally and is increasingly considered the most common liver disease. Patients with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases are at especially increased risk for NAFLD. Although most patients with NAFLD do not have progressive liver disease, some patients progress to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver mortality. Given the sheer number of patients with NAFLD, the burden of disease is enormous. Despite this large and increasing burden, identification of NAFLD patients at risk for progressive liver disease in the primary care and diabetology practice settings remains highly suboptimal. In this review, our aim is to summarize a stepwise approach to risk stratify patients with NAFLD which should help practitioners in their management of patients with NAFLD.

Keywords

nonalcoholic fatty liver disease - risk stratification - advanced disease - noninvasive tests - primary care


Publication History

Article published online:
06 July 2023

© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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