Bengaluru: Liver diseases are a growing concern in India, with a survey showing that 70% of people screened suffer from visceral fat obesity and 15% from fatty liver.
The more worrying part of the findings is that the 7000 individuals, who were screened over the last one year, were otherwise healthy and asymptomatic, according to NURA, a collaboration between Fujifilm Healthcare and Dr Kutty’s Healthcare of Bengaluru.
Men were found more commonly affected than women.
A statement, quoting NURA Medical Director Dr. Tausif Ahmed Thangalvadi, said: “Such high prevalence of visceral fat obesity and fatty liver among otherwise healthy and asymptomatic people is striking.
“What is even more alarming is that fatty liver was noted across all age groups, with detection in people even as young as 25 years of age. Among those who had fatty liver, nearly 2-3 % also had associated minimal liver injury.”
According to the doctor, certain characteristics put individuals at a higher risk of developing liver diseases, including heavy alcohol consumption, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, chronic viral hepatitis, exposure to hepatotoxic substances, and a family history of liver diseases.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), liver diseases are the tenth leading cause of death in India, accounting for 2.4% of all deaths.
The incidence of liver diseases is estimated to be around 10-15% of the population, with a higher prevalence in rural areas.
The most common types of liver diseases in India include Viral Hepatitis, Alcoholic Liver Disease and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).
Regarding viral Hepatitis, while A and E are food-borne and relatively harmless, B, C and D are blood-borne and can lead to liver failure and liver cancer.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the prevalence of hepatitis B and C in India is estimated to be 4-5% and 1-2%, respectively.
Alcohol consumption is a significant risk factor for liver diseases in India, with an estimated prevalence of 1-2%.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is also emerging as a significant public health problem in the country, with a prevalence of 9-32% in the general population and up to 60% in obese individuals.
Current evidence suggests that NAFLD has the potential to lead to liver damage and liver failure, which can then lead to liver cancer.
“Early identification of liver diseases is crucial for effective management,” said Dr Thangalvadi.
“Fortunately, the liver is a very strong organ which can handle minor injuries by itself. The symptoms arise only after a certain amount of damage has occurred which suggests that liver symptoms should always be taken seriously,” he said.
Some of the earliest symptoms are fatigue, loss of appetite and nausea and vomiting.
The other common symptoms of liver disease as it progresses are jaundice, pain in the abdomen, swelling in the legs and abdomen, dark urine, and pale stool, he said.
