Preparing for the NASH epidemic: A call to action.

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Gastroenterology
• Public Health

Background:

• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) represent a growing global health challenge.
• Significant discrepancies exist between current clinical guidelines and actual practice in managing NAFLD and NASH.
• A lack of a unified global strategy complicates the management of these prevalent liver conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address management gaps in NAFLD and NASH by developing a comprehensive, unified strategy.
• To create a global guiding strategy for the management of NAFLD and NASH.
• To identify key research targets and advocate for an international public health response to NAFLD and NASH.

Main Methods:

• Convened an international conference with 32 experts from gastroenterology, hepatology, endocrinology, and primary care.
• Informed by a national NASH Needs Assessment Survey and review of published literature.
• Focused on global burden, screening, risk stratification, diagnosis, and management of NAFLD/NASH.

Main Results:

• Identified promising approaches for clinical practice in NAFLD/NASH management.
• Developed a comprehensive, unified strategy for the full spectrum of NAFLD/NASH care.
• Pinpointed high-yield targets for future clinical research.

Conclusions:

• A unified international strategy is crucial for effective NAFLD/NASH management.
• Bridging the gap between guidelines and practice requires a collaborative approach.
• An international public health response is needed to combat the rising burden of NAFLD and NASH.