Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease: What is important for primary care physicians?

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as the most common chronic liver condition in Western World and across the globe. NAFLD prevalence is estimated to be around one-third of the total population. There are no published data that project the future prevalence of NAFLD, but with an in...

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Main Authors: Mohamed H Ahmed, Nazik Elmalaika OS Husain, Ahmed O Almobarak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2015-01-01
Series:Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2015;volume=4;issue=1;spage=45;epage=52;aulast=Ahmed
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author Mohamed H Ahmed
Nazik Elmalaika OS Husain
Ahmed O Almobarak
author_facet Mohamed H Ahmed
Nazik Elmalaika OS Husain
Ahmed O Almobarak
author_sort Mohamed H Ahmed
collection DOAJ
description Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as the most common chronic liver condition in Western World and across the globe. NAFLD prevalence is estimated to be around one-third of the total population. There are no published data that project the future prevalence of NAFLD, but with an increase in epidemic of diabetes and obesity, it is possible to suggest an increase in a number of individuals with NAFLD. NAFLD is associated with insulin resistance and occurs with an increase in cluster of features of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, it is important to exclude the possibility of diabetes in those individuals with evidence of fatty liver. The global diabetes epidemic continues to grow, and it is estimated that the number of people with diabetes will double by year 2030. NAFLD is also a risk factor for an increase in cardiovascular incidence independent of age, sex, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, smoking, and cluster of metabolic syndromes. It is expected that NAFLD will be an important challenge for health providers in the near future. Taking all these factors into consideration, we believe that increasing awareness of metabolic and cardiovascular impact of NAFLD among general practitioners and health authorities may decrease the serious consequences of late diagnosis of NAFLD. Importantly, the collaboration between medical specialties is vital in decreasing the impact of the epidemic of NAFLD. The focus of this review is in the role of primary care physician in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of NAFLD and patients education.
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spelling doaj.art-e1baaa00f529441ab301439331392cd52022-12-21T18:22:00ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Family Medicine and Primary Care2249-48632015-01-0141455210.4103/2249-4863.152252Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease: What is important for primary care physicians?Mohamed H AhmedNazik Elmalaika OS HusainAhmed O AlmobarakNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as the most common chronic liver condition in Western World and across the globe. NAFLD prevalence is estimated to be around one-third of the total population. There are no published data that project the future prevalence of NAFLD, but with an increase in epidemic of diabetes and obesity, it is possible to suggest an increase in a number of individuals with NAFLD. NAFLD is associated with insulin resistance and occurs with an increase in cluster of features of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, it is important to exclude the possibility of diabetes in those individuals with evidence of fatty liver. The global diabetes epidemic continues to grow, and it is estimated that the number of people with diabetes will double by year 2030. NAFLD is also a risk factor for an increase in cardiovascular incidence independent of age, sex, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, smoking, and cluster of metabolic syndromes. It is expected that NAFLD will be an important challenge for health providers in the near future. Taking all these factors into consideration, we believe that increasing awareness of metabolic and cardiovascular impact of NAFLD among general practitioners and health authorities may decrease the serious consequences of late diagnosis of NAFLD. Importantly, the collaboration between medical specialties is vital in decreasing the impact of the epidemic of NAFLD. The focus of this review is in the role of primary care physician in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of NAFLD and patients education.http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2015;volume=4;issue=1;spage=45;epage=52;aulast=AhmedCardiovascular diseaseinsulin resistancenonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseprimary care physiciantype 2 diabetes mellitus
spellingShingle Mohamed H Ahmed
Nazik Elmalaika OS Husain
Ahmed O Almobarak
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease: What is important for primary care physicians?
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
Cardiovascular disease
insulin resistance
nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
primary care physician
type 2 diabetes mellitus
title Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease: What is important for primary care physicians?
title_full Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease: What is important for primary care physicians?
title_fullStr Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease: What is important for primary care physicians?
title_full_unstemmed Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease: What is important for primary care physicians?
title_short Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease: What is important for primary care physicians?
title_sort nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease what is important for primary care physicians
topic Cardiovascular disease
insulin resistance
nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
primary care physician
type 2 diabetes mellitus
url http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2015;volume=4;issue=1;spage=45;epage=52;aulast=Ahmed
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