Publications by authors named "Wah Kheong Chan"
Background: The global burden of metabolic diseases is increasing, but estimates of their impact on primary liver cancer are uncertain. We aimed to assess the global burden of primary liver cancer attributable to metabolic risk factors, including high body mass index (BMI) and high fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, between 1990 and 2021.
Methods: The total number and age-standardized rates of deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from primary liver cancer attributable to each metabolic risk factor were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2021.
Background: Metabolic risk factors are a significant cause of global burden among adolescents and young adults, but there is a lack of attention to the burden attributable to these metabolic risk factors globally.
Aims: This study aims to provide comprehensive estimates of five important metabolic risk factors and the attributable disease burden in people aged 15-39 years from 1990 to 2021, based on the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) database.
Methods: Global total deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were used to describe the burden attributable to five common metabolic risk factors, including high fasting plasma glucose (FPG), high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high systolic blood pressure (SBP), high body mass index (BMI), and kidney dysfunction, in adolescents and young adults.
Article Synopsis
- - Obesity is a major global health concern, with a significant rise in deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) linked to high body mass index (BMI) from 1990 to 2021, notably increasing by over 2.5 times for both genders.
- - The main health issues associated with high BMI in 2021 included diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, with low-middle socio-demographic index (SDI) countries experiencing the largest increase in disease burden.
- - The findings call for urgent monitoring and intervention efforts to address the growing health impact of high BMI from 1990 to 2021, especially given the stable death rates for women and rising rates for men.
Article Synopsis
- Scientists studied a health problem called MASH, which affects people's livers, and worked on two tests to help doctors tell if someone has it.
- They looked at data from over 3,000 people to make sure their first test, called acMASH, worked well, and then created a new test called acFibroMASH to find more severe cases.
- The new acFibroMASH test was better at predicting who might have future liver problems compared to another test, showing it's a useful tool for doctors to keep patients healthy.
Article Synopsis
- Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a rising cause of chronic liver disease globally, prompting the need for dietary intervention strategies.
- A panel of 55 international experts conducted a study to reach a consensus on dietary modifications for preventing MAFLD, covering various aspects from epidemiology to management.
- Recommended strategies include following a balanced diet, increasing whole grains and plant-based foods, and reducing red meat and processed foods, along with advocating for physical activity and possibly maintaining Mediterranean or DASH diets.
Background: Common metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), have become a global health burden in the last three decades. The Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) data enables the first insights into the trends and burdens of these metabolic diseases from 1990 to 2021, highlighting regional, temporal and differences by sex.
Methods: Global estimates of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and deaths from GBD 2021 were analyzed for common metabolic diseases (T2DM, hypertension, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and MASLD).
Background And Aim: Multiple clinical trials have been conducted to study the potential benefits of vitamin E for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Despite available evidence, vitamin E is not widely used. This study aimed to assess the effect of vitamin E on serum markers of liver inflammation, specifically serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, and histology, including resolution of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), in adult patients with MASLD.
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- Statins provide multiple benefits for patients with metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), particularly in reducing long-term risks of all-cause mortality and liver-related clinical events (LREs).
- A study followed 7988 patients for nearly 4.6 years, revealing that statin users had significantly lower risks of mortality (HR=0.233) and LREs (HR=0.380), as well as slower liver stiffness progression rates.
- While statin usage is linked to a decrease in the progression of liver stiffness, it did not significantly correlate with liver stiffness regression, suggesting a complex relationship in liver health management.
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.
Background And Aim: LIVERSTAT is an artificial intelligence-based noninvasive test devised to screen for and provide risk stratification for metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) by using simple blood biomarkers and anthropometric measurements. We aimed to study LIVERSTAT in patients with MAFLD and to explore its role for the diagnosis of advanced fibrosis.
Methods: This is a retrospective study of data from MAFLD patients who underwent a liver biopsy.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the liver manifestation of a metabolic syndrome and is highly prevalent in the general population. There has been significant progress in non-invasive tests for MAFLD, from the diagnosis of fatty liver and monitoring of liver fat content in response to intervention, to evaluation of liver fibrosis and its change over time, and from risk stratification of patients within the context of clinical care pathways, to prognostication. Various non-invasive tests have also been developed to assess for fibrotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, which has emerged as an important diagnostic goal, particularly in the context of clinical trials.
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- Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a significant global health concern, especially as advanced fibrosis (F≥2) increases mortality risks.
- It’s crucial for primary care providers to refer patients with significant fibrosis to specialists, highlighting the need for effective noninvasive risk assessment tools.
- The study evaluates the Steatosis-associated fibrosis estimator (SAFE) against other tools, like FIB-4 and NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS), suggesting that using SAFE earlier could reduce the misclassification of patients at risk for serious liver issues.
Background: With the implementation of the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) and the publication of the metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) nomenclature in 2020, it is important to establish consensus for the coding of MAFLD in ICD-11. This will inform subsequent revisions of ICD-11.
Methods: Using the Qualtrics XM and WJX platforms, questionnaires were sent online to MAFLD-ICD-11 coding collaborators, authors of papers, and relevant association members.
Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is currently the most common chronic liver disease and an important cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. It is strongly associated with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Because of the huge number of patients at risk of MASLD, it is imperative to use non-invasive tests appropriately.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground & Aims: There is a need to reduce the screen failure rate (SFR) in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) clinical trials (MASH+F2-3; MASH+F4) and identify people with high-risk MASH (MASH+F2-4) in clinical practice. We aimed to evaluate non-invasive tests (NITs) screening approaches for these target conditions.
Methods: This was an individual participant data meta-analysis for the performance of NITs against liver biopsy for MASH+F2-4, MASH+F2-3 and MASH+F4.
Importance: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is currently the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. It is important to develop noninvasive tests to assess the disease severity and prognosis.
Objective: To study the prognostic implications of baseline levels and dynamic changes of the vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE)-based scores developed for the diagnosis of advanced fibrosis (Agile 3+) and cirrhosis (Agile 4) in patients with MASLD.
Article Synopsis
- Machine learning (ML) models were developed and tested on nearly 1,700 NAFLD/MASLD patients to improve the detection of significant fibrosis (SF) compared to traditional scoring methods like FIB-4.
- The study found that ML models performed 7%-12% better than FIB-4, with an optimized random forest model achieving the highest accuracy in identifying patients with SF.
- Effective use of simple blood tests and ML can significantly enhance patient screening, reducing unnecessary referrals and missed diagnoses in patients with non-alcoholic 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.
Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of cardio-metabolic dysfunctions characterised by increased fasting plasma glucose, waist circumference, blood pressure, triglycerides and reduction in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Meanwhile, metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the new term for fatty liver associated with MetS. People with MetS or MAFLD have higher risks for adverse cardiovascular outcomes and mortalities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground & Aims: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a global public health risk. The occurrence of adolescent NAFLD coincides with high rates of overweight and obesity, with an unhealthy lifestyle also playing a role. Data on prevalence and factors contributing to NAFLD among Asian adolescents is lacking as most studies focus on adults.
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