More than 1 in 4 Koreans have ‘fatty liver’ associated with metabolic abnormalities… Cardiovascular disease ‘need caution’

Research results have shown that more than one in four Koreans have ‘fatty liver disease related to metabolic abnormalities.’ Patients with this disease were also found to have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

The research team of Severance Hospital (Professor of Gastroenterology Seung-eop Kim, Professor of Prevention Department Ho-gyu Lee, and Clinical Instructor Hyuk-hee Lee) and Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital (Professor of Gastroenterology Han-ah Lee) arrived at these results by analyzing data on 9.7 million people who underwent health checkups in Korea. The day was revealed.

The American and European Liver Societies recently jointly reorganized the classification system for fatty liver disease and newly named ‘metabolic abnormality-related fatty liver disease’, which refers to cases where fatty liver disease is present and is accompanied by one or more metabolic abnormalities. As the proportion of cardiovascular disease is increasing as the main cause of death in patients with fatty liver disease, the disease was classified separately for the purpose of better screening and management of high-risk patients.

According to the study, the prevalence of fatty liver disease related to metabolic abnormalities in Korea reached 27.5%. The number of people who have hepatic steatosis, commonly known as fatty liver, and also have metabolic disorders such as high blood pressure accounts for more than a quarter of the total population.

The researchers said they were the first to confirm that the risk of cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction, heart failure, and cardiovascular disease-related death, was 1.39 times higher than that of the normal control group. In addition, patients with fatty liver disease related to metabolic abnormalities who increased their drinking or who also suffer from other liver diseases such as viral hepatitis were found to have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

The researchers said that patients with fatty liver disease related to metabolic abnormalities, which have a high prevalence, are at high risk of various complications and even death in severe cases due to cardiovascular disease, so caution is needed. Professor Han-ah Lee said, “As the domestic prevalence of fatty liver disease related to metabolic abnormalities is high, systematic management at the national level is necessary.”