The global prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is progressively increasing, with approximately a third of the world’s population affected by it. In its early stages, MASLD is largely a silent disease, but as it progresses to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), damage can become irreparable.
Professors Aleksander Krag (hepatologist from the University of Southern Denmark, Odense University Hospital) and Juan Mendive (primary care physician from the Catalan Institute of Health, University of Barcelona) discuss how liver health is often overlooked in primary care, but also how primary care physicians are uniquely positioned to support early identification of MASLD using specific liver testing and timely referral to hepatology for improved patient outcomes.
The role of primary care in supporting liver health
Learning Objectives
To raise awareness of MASLD/MASH as a manifestation of metabolic disease
To improve understanding of risk factors and comorbidities for MASLD/MASH and the progressive nature of these diseases
To highlight the role of primary care in the timely diagnosis of MASLD/MASH and the importance of appropriate specialist referral
To discuss optimal multidisciplinary collaboration between primary care and hepatology for the management of people with MASLD/MASH
The following speakers have received an honorarium from Novo Nordisk for their input to and facilitation of this educational material:
- Prof. Aleksander Krag, University of Southern Denmark, Odense University Hospital, Denmark
- Prof. Juan Mendive, Catalan Institute of Health, University of Barcelona, Spain
References
1. Younossi ZM, et al. Hepatology. 2023;77:1335–1347
2. Abe RM, et al. Cureus. 2021;13:e16855
3. Blanco-Grau A, et al. Diagnostics. 2021;11:2236
