NAFLD in Chinese and South Asian people

In Asia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become increasingly recognized as a public health problem with the prevalence ranging from 5 to 40% in the general population. Accumulating evidence shows an increasing prevalence of NAFLD globally in parallel with trends in obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. Therefore, the prevalence and impact of this common liver condition in Asia are anticipated to increase in the foreseeable future. The histologically more severe form of NAFLD, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), albeit mild and slowly progressive, also exists in Asia. Patients with NASH may progress to cirrhosis and its related complications, including hepatocellular carcinoma. The implementation of universal hepatitis B vaccination and recent advances of antiviral treatment will make the control of viral hepatitis possible. As a result, NAFLD may gradually replace viral hepatitis as the major etiology of liver disease in Asia if we fail to formulate strategies to cope with this growing health problem. ? 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.