A large study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden found that people with fatty liver disease are almost twice as likely to die compared to the general population.
Fatty liver disease, also called MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease), can lead to liver damage, liver cancer, and other serious health problems.
MASLD is very common. In Sweden, about one in five people have it, and globally, it may be as many as one in four. It is usually caused by being overweight or obese and happens when fat builds up in the liver. Most people with MASLD don’t feel sick in the early stages, so they often don’t know they have it.
Researchers studied over 13,000 people in Sweden who were diagnosed with MASLD between 2002 and 2020. They looked at how these people died and compared the results to the general population.
The study showed that people with MASLD were: 27 times more likely to die from liver disease, 35 times more likely to die from liver cancer, 54% more likely to die from heart disease, and 47% more likely to die from cancers not related to the liver.
The risk of death was also higher for infections, stomach and bowel diseases, breathing problems, and hormone-related diseases. However, the risk of dying from mental illness was not higher.
Experts say it’s important to treat the whole person, not just the liver. People with MASLD may need help from different kinds of doctors to prevent serious health problems and live longer.
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The study is published in the Journal of Hepatology.
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