Dataset Information

Epidemiology of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the developed countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the NAFLD prevalence in European adults and children/adolescents of the general population and specific subgroups.

Method

Search for all articles published between 01/1990-06/2019 reporting NAFLD prevalence from European countries.

Results

Nineteen studies with adults and 9 with children/adolescents were included. Pooled NAFLD prevalence in adults was 26.9%, being higher in studies using ultrasonography (27.2%) or fatty liver index (FLI) (30.1%) than liver biochemical tests (19.1%) and without differences between Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean countries or publication periods. Pooled NAFLD prevalence was higher in men than women (32.8% vs. 19.6%) and in patients with than those without metabolic syndrome (75.3% vs. 17.9%) or any of its components (always P<0.01). Ultrasound and FLI performed equally in estimating NAFLD prevalence in most subgroups. A higher prevalence was reported using FLI in obese and in diabetic patients, whereas a higher prevalence was observed with ultrasound in non-obese patients and in individuals without metabolic syndrome. NAFLD prevalence was 2.7% in unselected and 31.6% in obese/overweight children/adolescents.

Conclusions

NAFLD prevalence exceeds 25% in European adults, being higher in those with metabolic syndrome component(s)-related comorbidities. It remains low in unselected NAFLD population, but increased in overweight/obese European children/adolescents, particularly from Mediterranean countries.

SUBMITTER: Cholongitas E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8079871 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:Individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are characterized by increased cardiovascular risk. Endothelial dysfunction, a mechanism implicated in those processes, may constitute the missing link in this interaction. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the association of endothelial dysfunction, assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, with NAFLD. We conducted a systematic literature search for studies assessing the difference in FMD between patients with NAFLD and controls. Exclusion criteria consisted of preclinical studies, studies in children/adolescents, no FMD assessment, and the absence of an NAFLD/control group. The database search identified 96 studies. Following the application of the exclusion criteria, 22 studies were included in the meta-analysis (NAFLD: 2164 subjects; control: 3322 subjects). Compared with controls, patients with NAFLD had significantly lower FMD% values (SMD: -1.37, 95% CI -1.91 to -0.83, p < 0.001, I2: 98%). Results remained unaffected after exclusion of any single study. Subgroup analysis revealed significantly decreased FMD in NAFLD subjects diagnosed with liver ultrasound or liver biopsy compared with method combination or other methods, while no differences were observed according to the chosen cuff inflation threshold, the presence of a significant difference in obesity measures between the groups, or the type of the control group (age- and sex-matched vs. other). Funnel plot asymmetry was not observed. Finally, compared with patients with pure steatosis, individuals with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis had significantly lower FMD (SMD: -0.81, 95% CI -1.51 to -0.31, p = 0.003, I2: 81%). In conclusion, FMD of the brachial artery, indicative of endothelial dysfunction, was significantly reduced in subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis might be facing a more pronounced endothelial impairment.

Project description:BackgroundPreclinical evidence suggests that modulation of the gut microbiome could represent a new therapeutic target in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the most current evidence for liver-specific and metabolic effects of microbiome-targeted therapies (MTTs) in persons with NAFLD.MethodsWe searched multiple electronic databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from January 1, 2005 to December 1, 2018 that enrolled persons with NAFLD who received MTT rather than placebo or usual care. MTT was defined as antibiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, or fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Clinical outcomes were pooled with the use of random-effects models and heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 statistic. A random-effects meta-regression was performed to determine sources of heterogeneity in prevalence estimates between studies.ResultsTwenty-one RCTs (1252 participants) were included; 9 evaluated probiotics and 12 evaluated synbiotics, with treatment duration ranging from 8 to 28 wk. No RCTs examined the efficacy of antibiotics or FMT. Probiotics/synbiotics were associated with a significant reduction in alanine aminotransferase activity [ALT, weighted mean difference (WMD): -11.23 IU/L; 95% CI: -15.02, -7.44 IU/L] and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by elastography (reflecting inflammation and fibrosis) (WMD: -0.70 kPa; 95% CI: -1.00, -0.40 kPa), although analyses showed heterogeneity (I2 = 90.6% and I2 = 93.4%, respectively). Probiotics/synbiotics were also associated with increased odds of improvement in hepatic steatosis, as graded by ultrasound (OR: 2.40; 95% CI: 1.50, 3.84; I2 = 22.4%). No RCTs examined sequential liver biopsy findings. Probiotics (WMD: -1.84; 95% CI: -3.30, -0.38; I2 = 23.6%), but not synbiotics (WMD: -0.85; 95% CI: -2.17, 0.47; I2 = 96.6%), were associated with a significant reduction in body mass index.ConclusionsThe use of probiotics/synbiotics was associated with improvement in liver-specific markers of hepatic inflammation, LSM, and steatosis in persons with NAFLD. Although promising, given the heterogeneity in pooled analyses, additional well-designed RCTs are needed to define the efficacy of probiotics/synbiotics for treatment of NAFLD. This study was registered with PROSPERO as CRD42018091455.