Liver disease to affect 1.8 billion people worldwide by 2050, study suggests

There are now 1.3 billion people worldwide living with MASLD, the latest estimates suggest, a 143% increase in just three decades. About one in six people — 16% — are affected.

Metabolic liver disease will affect 1.8 billion people worldwide by 2050, driven by rising obesity and blood sugar levels, a study suggests.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is one of the most prevalent and rapidly growing liver conditions globally, according to the research.