Global Prevalence of Steatotic Liver Disease Exceeds One-Third of Population, Meta-Analysis Finds
A new meta-analysis, published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, offers a comprehensive estimate of the global prevalence of steatotic liver disease (SLD), revealing that more than one-third of the worldwide population is affected. The findings underscore the substantial burden of SLD and highlight the importance of recognizing its distinct subtypes in clinical practice.
The analysis included 44 studies comprising more than 11.2 million participants. Of these, 3.8 million were diagnosed with SLD. The pooled global prevalence of SLD was 37.5% (95% CI: 31.4–44.1), confirming its status as a major public health concern.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the most common subtype, had a global prevalence of 33.6%. Metabolic alcohol-related liver disease (MetALD) and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) accounted for smaller proportions, with prevalence rates of 4.1% and 2.2%, respectively.
“The high global prevalence of MASLD at 33.6% reflects its strong association with metabolic risk factors and rising global rates of obesity and insulin resistance,” the authors stated.
The prevalence of SLD was even higher in specific at-risk populations. Among individuals with type 2 diabetes, the pooled prevalence was 70.2% (95% CI: 66.1–73.9), and among overweight or obese individuals, prevalence reached 70.7% (95% CI: 43.2–88.4).
“These data highlight the need for early screening and intervention strategies in high-risk groups, particularly patients with metabolic syndrome and obesity,” the authors wrote.
Despite heterogeneity across studies, the findings provide robust evidence for the widespread burden of SLD and its subtypes. The authors emphasized that this disease spectrum, particularly MASLD, should be a focal point for public health policy.
“The high prevalence of SLD shows that there remains an urgent need for targeted public health interventions and policies to address the modifiable risk factors contributing to the global burden of SLD,” they concluded.
For clinicians, the data reinforce the importance of identifying and managing metabolic risk factors and incorporating routine liver health assessments into care for patients with diabetes or obesity.
Reference
Kit Ho GJ, Ning Tan FX, Sasikumar NA, et al. High global prevalence of steatotic liver disease and associated subtypes: a meta-analysis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. Published online April 7, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2025.02.006
