Advanced Liver Fibrosis Is Common in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Followed in the Outpatient Setting: The Need for Systematic Screening
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is the most common disease with Non-Alcoholic SteatoHepatitis being the severe most form. NASH brings about several complications. Besides, in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, the progession is accelerated. It is crucial to emphasize that the screening of NAFLD should be done with the vision that intervention at the appropriate time can aid in preventing the progression to decompensated cirrhosis. Fernando Bril and colleagues hence conducted a research titled “Advanced Liver Fibrosis Is Common in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Followed in the Outpatient Setting: The Need for Systematic Screening” and the article has been summarized below.
Objective:
To assess the prevalence of Steatosis and moderate to advanced fibrosis in unselected patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
Method:
561 participants with an unawareness of NAFLD were selected for this study. Elastography was employed to rule out steatosis and fibrosis. Besides, the diagnostic panels such as those of AST-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) and Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index were also measured. Biopsy of liver was conducted.
Findings:
Individuals having a higher BMI were associated with worsened steatosis. The prevalence was high with one in six participants (15 %) having undiagnosed moderate to advanced fibrosis. Various recent research studies suggest the surging burden of NASH in patients with diabetes. This study also highlights a probable association between long-term risk of advanced fibrosis and the presence of corpulence. The findings suggest a domineering implementation of ADA guidelines with respect to discerning hepatic fibrosis in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with steatosis or increased ALT.
Therefore patient and physician awareness of the complications of NASH and adequate implementation of guidelines can help halt the epidemic of cirrhosis in paients with diabetes.
Limitations:
One of the limitations was that the study was a cross sectional study.