A study using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III revealed significant gender disparities in the risk of death associated with liver diseases. Women with concurrent metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) face an 83% higher risk of all-cause mortality compared to men. Additionally, women with ALD alone have a 160% greater risk of death. The study analyzed data from 10,007 adults and found notable differences in the prevalence of MASLD, MetALD (MASLD and ALD), and ALD between men and women. Over a median follow-up of 26.7 years, the study observed 2,496 deaths, with MASLD not significantly linked to mortality in either gender. However, MetALD was associated with a significantly higher mortality risk in women.
Key Insights
- Gender-Specific Risk in Liver Diseases: The study highlights a critical gender disparity in liver disease mortality, emphasizing the need for gender-specific approaches in medical research and treatment.
- Impact of Alcohol on Liver Disease: The significantly higher mortality risk in women with ALD underscores the severe impact of alcohol on liver health, particularly in women.
- Importance of Early Detection and Intervention: These findings stress the importance of early detection and intervention in liver diseases, especially in women, to reduce the risk of mortality.
Image Source & Credit: Healio