jasdooit

Three prevalent heart-related conditions may increase the likelihood of dying from liver disease by as much as 40 percent, according to alarming research.

Also known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), this condition is not related to excessive alcohol consumption—the more widely recognized cause of liver issues.

Rather, MASLD develops as a result of an accumulation of fat within the liver, and it is reported to be increasing in the UK.

But US researchers have recently identified high blood pressure, type 2diabetesand being characterized by low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL)—commonly referred to as ‘good cholesterol’—significantly increased the likelihood of dying from the illness.

Scientists who examined the medical records of more than 134,000 individuals discovered that hypertension alone raised the risk of death by 40 percent.

Individuals with type 2 diabetes and low levels of HDL, once thought to be beneficial due to extensive research indicating its protective effects on the heart, experienced an increased risk by approximately 20%.

For years, specialists have cautioned that a lack of physical activity and a growing dependence on ultra-processed foods, which are high in salt, fat, and sugar, may be contributing to this issue, especially in younger generations.

Dr. Matthew Dukewich, a transplant hepatology fellow at the University of Southern California and the lead author of the study, stated: “Previously, it was widely believed that diabetes was the main health concern for individuals with MASLD, which is an important realization.”

Dr. Norah Terrault, a liver specialist at the University of Southern California and one of the study’s authors, stated: “MASLD is a complex condition, and this research provides fresh insights into where medical professionals should concentrate their treatment approaches for patients.”

Understanding which elements of MASLD could result in worse outcomes can enable us to provide patients with the most effective care.

A research project analyzed health information from more than 134,000 individuals spanning from 1988 to 2018.

They found that 21,872 participants had MASLD along with at least one cardiometabolic risk factor, including obesity or elevated blood pressure.

Once adjusting for variables that might influence the outcomes, like age and gender, they discovered that high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and low HDL cholesterol were the three cardiometabolic risk factors associated with the greatest risk of MASLD-related death—increasing this risk by 40, 25, and 15 percent respectively.

Writing in the journal, Clinical Gastroenterology, they also found that each additional metabolic risk factor raised the death risk for MASLD patients by 15 percent.

Health professionals should focus on MASLD patients who have cardiometabolic risk factors, they noted.

Liver disease, which was previously mainly seen in older individuals and those who consumed large amounts of alcohol, is now increasing quickly among younger adults.

There has been a twofold increase in cases among children during the last 20 years.

The British Liver Trust believes the condition could now impact one out of every five individuals in the UK—however, specialists have cautioned that the actual number might reach up to 40 percent.

Concerningly, approximately 80 percent of those impacted go undiagnosed, as the illness frequently presents without clear signs—or exhibits symptoms that are misinterpreted as milder issues.

In the majority of instances, it is only detected through standard blood tests or liver function assessments conducted for other reasons.

A long-term illness like diabetes is now impacting 4.6 million individuals in the UK, marking a new peak, as reported by the organization Diabetes UK.

Approximately 14 million adults in the UK also suffer from high blood pressure, a number that continues to increase.

Read more

• Is the risk of liver disease increasing rapidly among middle-aged individuals who consume alcohol, even with possible improvements in diet and exercise?
• Are you unintentionally among the 64% vulnerable to liver disease due to obesity and daily habits? Here’s what specialists have discovered.
• What makes seemingly normal lifestyles in the UK become hidden dangers for liver health as obesity rates increase?
• Could Type 5 diabetes be the silent threat impacting millions of unaware, young, and thin people around the globe?
• How frequently do life-threatening heart conditions go undetected in individuals with liver disease? The alarming issue of missed diagnoses has been uncovered!