Apollo Hospitals finds 33% fatty liver incidence in 53,946 health checks

New Delhi: A recent analysis by Apollo Hospitals underscores the critical role of ultrasound imaging in the early detection of fatty liver disease. In an extensive review of 53,946 health checks conducted over the past year, the hospital found that 33% of participants were diagnosed with fatty liver. Alarmingly, among those diagnosed, only one in three exhibited elevated liver enzyme levels, suggesting that reliance solely on blood tests is insufficient for early detection.

Currently, the diagnosis of fatty liver disease hinges on patient history, physical examinations, and blood tests measuring liver enzymes and function markers. However, imaging techniques such as ultrasound and fibro scan, which can detect fat accumulation in the liver even when enzyme levels appear normal, are not always prioritized. This gap in diagnostic practice is particularly concerning given the increased mortality associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which also exacerbates cardiovascular and oncological complications.

Dr. N. Murugan, Senior Consultant Hepatologist & Liver Transplant Physician at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai, highlighted, “The lack of timely diagnosis of fatty liver disease (FLD) is a growing concern. Particularly metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), caused by factors other than excessive alcohol use, is increasingly prevalent in India due to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Despite its growing incidence, FLD often goes undiagnosed because it’s largely asymptomatic in early stages and would not necessarily reflect through an LFT blood test.”

Dr. Akash Roy, Senior Hepatologist at Apollo Hospitals in Kolkata, emphasized, “Early and accurate detection through imaging techniques like ultrasound could lead to timely interventions, lifestyle modifications, and treatment plans that could significantly improve patient outcomes. Therefore, I urge healthcare professionals to consider adopting ultrasound as a more routine diagnostic tool for fatty liver disease and using its benefits more widely utilized to enhance patient care.”

Weight reduction is a proven strategy to reverse fatty liver in its early stages. A 5% to 10% reduction in body weight can significantly reduce liver fat and inflammation.

Dr. Sathya Sriram, CEO of Preventive Health at Apollo Hospitals, elaborated on their approach, “At Apollo Hospitals, our mission in designing preventive health checks was to ensure they are extremely comprehensive, yet relevant to each individual, enabling the early diagnosis of health issues. With Apollo ProHealth, we are personalizing health checks to each person’s risk and our doctors interpret the results for accurate guidance. We have also advocated for integrating ultrasound as a safe and critical component of health checks, recognizing its significant clinical benefits for true preventive care.”