Fatty liver - a global disease
NAFLD is worldwide the most common chronic liver disease affecting 25% of worldwide population. Not only adults are affected, even every 3rd child with obesity develops NAFLD.
NASH, the advanced form of NAFLD, is a severe liver disease affecting about 3% of the population and is the leading cause for liver cirrhosis, transplantation, and liver carcinoma.
At least 50% of the NASH patients develop type 2 diabetes. More than 160 Mio NAFLD patients and more than 27 Mio NASH patients are affected in Europe and USA. Worldwide more than 1.5 billion patients suffer from NAFLD and 225 Mio. from NASH.