Commentary: Metabolic associated liver disease: an inevitable terminological evolution in real practice

Area of Science:

• Hepatology and Metabolic Diseases
• Public Health and Healthcare Management

Background:

• Patients with liver disease often have multiple contributing factors, including metabolic syndrome (MS) and alcohol consumption (AC).
• The co-occurrence of MS and AC is frequently underestimated, partly due to insufficient study of AC's role.
• Alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver disease share overlapping histopathological features, complicating diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for the adoption of simplified terminology, specifically 'metabolic associated liver disease' (MALD).
• To highlight the benefits of unified terminology in improving interdisciplinary communication and patient care.
• To emphasize the need for a holistic approach to managing patients with complex etiological factors.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis and synthesis of existing knowledge on liver disease etiology.
• Review of histopathological similarities between alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver disease.
• Discussion of the impact of co-morbidities like MS and AC on patient outcomes.

Main Results:

• Adopting MALD terminology can enhance communication and cooperation among specialists from different medical fields.
• Simplified terminology facilitates earlier identification of both hepatic and extra-hepatic pathologies.
• A unified approach allows for a more integrated view of the patient, leading to streamlined healthcare pathways.

Conclusions:

• The proposed MALD terminology supports a 'unitary' view of the patient, improving healthcare efficiency.
• This simplification can reduce hospitalization rates and associated costs, offering a cost-benefit advantage.
• Adopting MALD fosters unified policies for prevention and health promotion, addressing the complex interplay of metabolic and alcohol-related factors.