Despite the rising prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), there is still a general lack of understanding as to how the condition affects long-term health. According to a publication in Healio, a research team spearheaded a study to explore the relationship between NAFLD and risk of severe infection requiring hospitalization. Prior studies suggested that such a relationship existed but lacked the evidenciary backing needed to more concretely connect the two.

In this study, published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the researchers evaluated data from 12,133 adults with NAFLD from a 48-year period. The team also collected and evaluated data from 57,516 matched controls who did not have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Below, I’ve listed the breakdown of the specific forms of NAFLD that the cohort had:

• Approximately 680 people had liver cirrhosis.
• Around 1,383 people had nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with no fibrosis.
• 1,844 individuals had NASH with noncirrhotic fibrosis.
• Most individuals (8,266 people) had simple steatosis.

After exploring the data, the research team came to a surprising conclusion: a correlation between severe infection requiring hospitalization and NAFLD did exist. Over the follow-up period, people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease had a 71% higher risk of severe infections and hospitalizations than their peers. Urinary tract and respiratory infections were the most commonly seen infections. In terms of “person-years,” the rate of severe infections in people with NAFLD was 32.3 per every 1,000 prson-years compared to just 17 in the control group.

Further, shared the findings, the rate of infections rose over the years – and worsened alongside the disease. For example, people with cirrhosis had a much higher risk of infection than people with simple steatosis. The 20-year incidence rate also suggests that among every 6 people living with NAFLD, there is one more severe incidence of infection than the controls.

Ultimately, the research team suggests that care for people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease should think more about the implications of infection and how to better prevent them in the clinical setting.

About Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease comprises nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and simple fatty liver. So, in short, NAFLD refers to conditions causing excess liver fat that is unrelated to alcohol consumption. While the exact cause is unknown, risk factors for NAFLD include obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), an underactive thyroid or pituitary gland, high cholesterol and blood sugar, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. This condition is becoming increasingly common. In fact, an estimated 25% of people within the United States have NAFLD. A liver transplant may be used as treatment in people who develop cirrhosis (scarring). However, in many cases, the best way to treat NAFLD is through eating healthy, losing weight, and exercising.

Symptoms relating to this condition often begin with fatigue and upper right abdominal pain. As NAFLD progresses, additional symptoms may manifest. These can include:

• An enlarged spleen and blood vessels
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes)
• Abdominal swelling
• Nausea
• Unintended weight loss
• Red palms
• Cirrhosis (complication)
• Liver cancer or failure (complication)
• Cardiovascular disease (complication)