Uncovering the Silent Killer: Research highlights on chronic liver diseases.

Abstract

Chronic liver disease (CLD) affects approximately 1.5 billion people around the world.1 Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common CLD that accounts for 59% of prevalent cases, followed by hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (29%) and hepatitis C virus infection (9%).2 CLD is a silent killer characterized by insidious progression in hepatic necroinflammation and fibrosis that can culminate in cirrhosis and increase the risk of primary liver cancer. According to the Global Burden of Disease study, there were 2.1 million deaths attributable to CLD in 2017, with cirrhosis and liver cancer respectively responsible for 62% and 38% of the mortality.3.