Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients have higher mortality rates

Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are at greater risk of death than the general population, say researchers.

Experts at the Karolinska Institute sought to determine the association of NAFLD, the most common cause of elevated liver enzyme levels, with mortality rate as part of their study.

Principal investigator Dr. Cecilia Söderberg said: "We wanted to determine the frequency of NAFLD and NASH in a population of subjects with elevated serum levels of aminotransaminases and compare the survival and causes of death in NAFLD subjects with those of subjects from other liver diseases, and the general population."

Dr. Söderberg explained: "This study has four major strengths. Firstly, all the subjects were enrolled consecutively during a defined period of time (1980-1984). Secondly, all underwent liver biopsy at the time of referral so that the diagnoses of NAFLD are based on histological criteria. Thirdly, re-evaluation of the initial biopsy findings was performed in all cases. And finally, even deceased subjects could be followed up through the Cause of Death Registry, so that there were no losses during follow-up.