Experts Warn About a Common Liver Disease That Often Goes Undetected
Experts Warn About a Common Liver Disease That Often Goes Undetected
At a global meeting held recently in Barcelona, more than 100 health experts raised concern about a liver disease that affects millions of people but is often not found early. The meeting was hosted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health. Experts said that unless countries improve how they find and treat this disease, many people will continue to suffer without knowing why.
The disease is called Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which affects about one-third of adults worldwide. A more serious form of it, called metabolic
dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), affects about 5% of the population. People with type 2 diabetes, obesity, or other related health issues are more likely to get this disease. The problem is that MASH usually does not show any signs until it becomes very serious, which can then lead to liver damage or even liver cancer.
Moreover, on June 5, a paper was published in The Lancet Regional Health Europe asking health systems to double the rate of MASH detection by 2027. The experts said that many people do not get checked early, and this delay causes missed chances to treat the disease in time. The paper also said that new tools and computer systems can now help doctors find at-risk patients more easily. A new medicine for MASH has also been approved, which makes faster diagnosis even more important.
Experts say that steps like regular health check-ups for people at risk, easier access to liver tests, and teamwork between doctors from different departments can help improve the situation. They also said that better care means not just treating the illness but also helping people before it gets worse.
Another group of doctors and scientists also published a paper asking for changes in how we talk about liver disease. They say that kind and respectful language is important. Many patients delay seeing a doctor because they feel ashamed. This new approach, called person-centred care, puts the person first, not just the disease.
Chronic liver disease affects more than 1.5 billion people across the world, but it is still not included in many global health plans. Experts are asking leaders to act quickly before the UN meeting on non-communicable diseases in September 2025.
