Commentary
Data on NALFD epidemiology in the Asia-Pacific region indicate a rapid increase in the disease’s burden over the past three decades, which is supported by a systematic review and meta-analysis that assessed the prevalence, incidence, and outcomes of NAFLD in Asia. The analysis estimated that the overall prevalence of NAFLD was 29-62%, with prevalence increasing significantly over time.
Obesity and NAFLD are being increasingly recognized and are an emerging epidemic in the region, irrespective of country or regional income. The whole Asia-Pacific region is shifting towards increased consumption of energy-dense food and reduced physical activity, leading to increasing prevalence of NAFLD risk factors, such as diabetes and obesity.
The authors of the Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology Commission document here the burden of liver diseases in the Asia-Pacific region and formulate recommendations to tackle it. Commissioners were invited from each of the selected countries and territories and were provided with an outline for data collation and literature review. After this information was synthesized.
