Preparing for the NASH Epidemic: A Call to Action
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are common <br>conditions with a rising burden. Yet, there are significant management gaps between clinical <br>guidelines and practice in patients with NAFLD and NASH. Further, there is no single global <br>guiding strategy for the management of NAFLD and NASH. The American Gastroenterological <br>Association, in collaboration with seven professional associations, convened an international <br>conference comprising 32 experts in gastroenterology, hepatology, endocrinology, and primary <br>care providers from the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia. Conference content was informed by <br>the results of a national NASH Needs Assessment Survey. The participants reviewed and <br>discussed published literature on global burden, screening, risk stratification, diagnosis, and <br>management of individuals with NAFLD, including those with NASH. Participants identified <br>promising approaches for clinical practice and prepared a comprehensive, unified strategy for <br>primary care providers and relevant specialists encompassing the full spectrum of NAFLD/NASH <br>care. They also identified specific high-yield targets for clinical research and called for a unified, <br>international public health response to NAFLD and NASH.