The impact of stigma on quality of life and liver disease burden among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background & Aims: Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) face a multifaceted disease burden which includes impaired health-related quality of life (HRQL) and potential stigmatization. We aimed to assess the burden of liver disease in patients with NAFLD and the relationship between experience of stigma and HRQL.

Methods: Members of the Global NASH Council created a survey about disease burden in NAFLD.

Global survey of stigma among physicians and patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background & Aims: Patients with fatty liver disease may experience stigma from the disease or comorbidities. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to understand stigma among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and healthcare providers.

Methods: Members of the Global NASH Council created two surveys about experiences/attitudes toward NAFLD and related diagnostic terms: a 68-item patient and a 41-item provider survey.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Latin America and Australia.

The epidemiologic and demographical features of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) vary significantly across countries and continents. In this review, we analyze current data regarding prevalence of NAFLD in Latin America and Caribbean and Australia and review some peculiarities found in these regions. We stress the need of greater awareness of NAFLD and the development of cost-effective risk stratification strategies and clinical care pathways of the disease.

Severe impairment of patient-reported outcomes in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection seen in real-world practices across the world: Data from the global liver registry.

Cure of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) can lead to improvement of health-related quality of life and other patient-reported outcomes (PROs). While extensive PRO data for CHC patients who were enrolled in clinical trials are available, similar data for patients seen in real-world practices are scarce. Our aim was to assess PROs of CHC patients enrolled from real-world practices from different regions and to compare them with those enrolled in clinical trials.

The establishment of public health policies and the burden of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the Americas.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects 20-25% of the general population and is associated with morbidity, increased mortality, and elevated health-care costs. Most NAFLD risk factors are modifiable and, therefore, potentially amenable to being reduced by public health policies. To date, there is no information about NAFLD-related public health policies in the Americas.

Clinical and Patient-Reported Outcomes From Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Across the World: Data From the Global Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)/ Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Registry.

Background & Aims: Globally, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common cause of chronic liver disease. We assessed the clinical presentation and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) among NAFLD patients from different countries.

Methods: Clinical, laboratory, and PRO data (Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire-nonalcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH], Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue, and the Work Productivity and Activity Index) were collected from NAFLD patients seen in real-world practices and enrolled in the Global NAFLD/NASH Registry encompassing 18 countries in 6 global burden of disease super-regions.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Cuba.

Introduction: With a global adult prevalence of 24%, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a global health problem that parallels the worldwide increase of obesity. Its frequency, clinical characteristics and related diseases in Cuba remain unknown.

Objective: Describe the clinical characteristics, comorbidities and personal habits of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease who are being treated in secondary and tertiary health facilities in seven Cuban provinces.

The Latin American Association for the Study of the Liver (ALEH) position statement on the redefinition of fatty liver disease.

The Latin American Association for the Study of the Liver (Asociación Latinoamericana para el Estudio del Hígado; ALEH) represents liver professionals in Latin America with the mission of promoting liver health and quality patient care by advancing the science and practice of hepatology and contributing to the development of a regional health policy framework. Fatty liver disease associated with metabolic dysfunction is of specific concern in the ALEH region, where its prevalence is one of the highest globally, second only to the Middle East. A recent consensus from an international panel recommended a new definition of fatty liver disease associated with metabolic dysfunction, including a shift in name from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), and adoption of a set of positive criteria to diagnose the disease, independent of alcohol intake or other liver diseases.

Health-related quality of life in Cuban patients with chronic liver disease: A real-world experience.

Introduction And Objectives: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are important for comprehensive assessment of chronic liver disease (CLD). Latin America and the Caribbean have a high burden of CLD, but PROs are lacking. We assessed health-related quality of life (HRQL) in Cuban patients with compensated CLD.

Autoimmune Hepatitis in Cuban Patients: A Retrospective Analysis of Clinical and Histological Profiles, Treatments, and Outcomes.

Background: Population-based studies on the clinical course and prognosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) from Caribbean countries are limited.

Objective: The aim of this study was to provide information regarding the clinical and laboratory findings, histological profile, treatments, and outcomes of patients with AIH with long-term follow-up in a tertiary referral center.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed at the National Institute of Gastroenterology in Havana, Cuba, by enrolling 82 patients with a well-documented, long-term clinical course of AIH.

Alcohol-Related Liver Disease Is Rarely Detected at Early Stages Compared With Liver Diseases of Other Etiologies Worldwide.

Background & Aims: Despite recent advances in treatment of viral hepatitis, liver-related mortality is high, possibly owing to the large burden of advanced alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). We investigated whether patients with ALD are initially seen at later stages of disease development than patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection or other etiologies.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 3453 consecutive patients with either early or advanced liver disease (1699 patients with early and 1754 with advanced liver disease) seen at 17 tertiary care liver or gastrointestinal units worldwide, from August 2015 through March 2017.

Effects of Alcohol Consumption and Metabolic Syndrome on Mortality in Patients With Nonalcoholic and Alcohol-Related Fatty Liver Disease.

Background & Aims: Non-alcoholic and alcohol-related fatty liver disease are overlapping diseases in which metabolic syndrome and alcohol consumption each contribute to progressive liver disease. We aimed to assess the effects of alcohol consumption and metabolic syndrome on mortality in individuals with fatty liver.

Methods: We searched the National Health and Nutrition and Examination Survey III for adults (20-74 years old) with hepatic steatosis, detected by ultrasound, for whom mortality and follow-up data were available.

Prospects for US-Cuba Cooperation in Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Liver Transplantation.

Gastroenterology, hepatology and liver transplant exchanges between the USA and Cuba have mainly consisted of scientific events and short visits. This has facilitated Cuba's inclusion in recognized scientific organizations, familiarity with Cuba's biotech products for treatment of liver disease, and access by Cuban professionals to the highest level of scientific information for clinical practice. It has also given health professionals in the US a more accurate picture of Cuba's health sector.

Liver Stiffness Reference Values for Healthy Cuban Adults.

Introduction: Reference values for liver stiffness for healthy individuals vary worldwide. Different optimal cutoff values correspond to the stages of fibrosis in chronic liver disease.

Objectives: Characterize the distribution of liver stiffness in Cuban adults without liver disease and its association with age, serum uric acid and body mass index.

Clinical Evaluation of Terap C Vaccine in Combined Treatment with Interferon and Ribavirin in Patients with Hepatitis C.

Background: An estimated 170 million individuals worldwide are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Although treatment options using a combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin (P-IFN/RBV) are available, sustained clearance of the virus is only achieved in approximately 40% of individuals infected with HCV genotype 1. Recent advances in the treatment of HCV using directly acting antiviral agents have been achieved; however, treatment can be very expensive and is associated with substantial side effects.