Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among older adults

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now the leading cause of liver disease, and its prevalence is expected to increase in the future due to the increasing prevalence of obesity and an increasing aging population. With increases in longevity, NAFLD has emerged as a growing public health concern worldwide. NAFLD is a multisystem disease that has a strong association with metabolic risk factors. The presence of NAFLD increases the risks of liver- and cardiovascular-related mortality. Many studies have found age to be an additional risk factor for advanced fibrosis, which is associated with adverse outcomes. The identification of high-risk older persons using noninvasive methods is a key step in community management. Limitations in the diagnostic performance of current assessment methods have been encountered. This review provides an update on the new terminology that has changed from NAFLD to metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), and the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, noninvasive assessment, and prognosis of older persons with NAFLD. Key points image New terminology changes from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) have recently been established and data regarding older adults with MAFLD are scarce. The majority of older patients with NAFLD fulfilled with MAFLD diagnostic criteria. The prevalence of NAFLD increased with age. Older patients with NAFLD had higher prevalence of advanced fibrosis and lean/normal weight than younger patients with NAFLD.