Study: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease not linked with higher risk of death

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was found in a study to not be associated with an increased risk of death.

Using records from 11,371 adults in the U.S. Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988 to 1994), with follow-up of mortality to 2006, researchers found that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was not associated with an increased risk of death from all causes.

Mortality from all causes was 22% in this prospective cohort study. Cumulative mortalities for cause-specific deaths were 10.9% for cardiovascular disease, 6% for cancer and 0.5% for liver disease.

“Although other outcomes related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, including cirrhosis, cancer, and a more rapid progression of coexistent liver diseases may be important, our findings support the suggestion that people with accumulation of fat in the liver have a good prognosis with respect to mortality,” the study authors said.

Disclosure: Wong is an advisory board member of Gilead, Roche Pharmaceutical, Novartis and Otsuka. He has served as a speaker for Roche Pharmaceutical, Novartis, Abbott Diagnostic, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Echosens.