Global Burden of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, 1990 to 2019: Findings From the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Abstract

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver diseases worldwide. We provided a comprehensive description regarding the disease burden of NAFLD in 204 countries and territories.

Materials and methods: We reported the deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) related to NAFLD in the Global Burden of Disease database by sex, age, specific causes, and regions. Estimated annual percentage change was applied to describe the changing trends.

Results: Globally, the NAFLD-related deaths and DALYs in 2019 were 0.17 million [95% uncertainty interval (UI): 0.13 to 0.21] and 4.42 million (95% UI: 3.35 to 5.67), increased by 80.2% and 62.9% compared with 1990, respectively. The overall age-standardized rate of mortality and DALYs (ASMR and ASDR) showed a downward trend from 1990 to 2019, the estimated annual percentage change were -0.67 (95% confidence interval: -0.76, -0.57) and -0.82 (95% confidence interval: -0.93, -0.7), respectively. NAFLD-related deaths due to cirrhosis and liver cancer increased by 76.7% and 95.1% between 1990 and 2019. The ASMR and ASDR were the highest in the middle and low sociodemographical index regions in 2019, respectively. Of the 21 Global Burden of Disease regions, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, High-income North America, and Australasia experienced an increase in both ASMR and ASDR.

Conclusions: NAFLD imposes heavy disease burden on humankind worldwide, especially in countries with low-to-middle sociodemographical index level. More potent measures are urgently needed in regions with rising age-standardized rate to forestall the increase of NAFLD disease burden.