Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is defined as the presence of hepatic fat accumulation after the exclusion of other causes of hepatic steatosis, including other causes of liver disease, excessive alcohol consumption, and other conditions that may lead to hepatic steatosis. NAFLD encompasses a broad clinical spectrum ranging from nonalcoholic fatty liver to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), advanced fibrosis, cirrhosis, and finally hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). NAFLD is the most common liver disease in the world and NASH may soon become the most common indication for liver transplantation. Ongoing persistence of obesity with increasing rate of diabetes will increase the prevalence of NAFLD, and as this population ages, many will develop cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease. There has been a general increase in the prevalence of NAFLD, with Asia leading the rise, yet the United States is following closely behind with a rising prevalence from 15% in 2005 to 25% within 5 years. NAFLD is commonly associated with metabolic comorbidities, including obesity, type II diabetes, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. Our understanding of the pathophysiology of NAFLD is constantly evolving. Based on NAFLD subtypes, it has the potential to progress into advanced fibrosis, end-stage liver disease and HCC. The increasing prevalence of NAFLD with advanced fibrosis, is concerning because patients appear to experience higher liver-related and non-liver-related mortality than the general population. The increased morbidity and mortality, healthcare costs and declining health related quality of life associated with NAFLD makes it a formidable disease, and one that requires more in-depth analysis.

T he current pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2),continues to spread, and as of April 1, 2020, more than 920,000 cases have been reported worldwide. 1 Although the respiratory complications of SARS-CoV-2 have been described, the impact on the gastrointestinal and hepatic systems remains unknown, with conflicting levels noted in preliminary cases from China and Singapore. [2][3][4] We aim to characterize the gastrointestinal manifestations in patients with SARS-CoV-2 at our institution.

With the prevalence of hepatitis C virus expected to decline, the proportion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) related to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is anticipated to increase exponentially due to the growing epidemic of obesity and diabetes. The annual incidence rate of developing HCC in patients with NASH-related cirrhosis is not clearly understood with rates ranging from 2.6%-12.8%. While multiple new mechanisms have been implicated in the development of HCC in NASH; further prospective long-term studies are needed to validate these findings. Recent evidence has shown a significant proportion of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and NASH progress to HCC in the absence of cirrhosis. Liver resection and transplantation represent curative therapeutic options in select NASH-related HCC patients but have placed a significant burden to our healthcare resources and utilization. Currently NASH-related HCC is the fastest growing indication for liver transplant in HCC candidates. Increased efforts to implement effective screening and preventative strategies, particularly in non-cirrhotic NASH patients, are needed to reduce the future impact imposed by NASH-related HCC.

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In our population-based analysis of chronic liver disease mortality in the United States, the decrease in HCV-related mortality coincided with the introduction of direct-acting antiviral therapies, whereas mortality from ALD and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increased during the same period. Minorities in the United States have disproportionately higher mortality related to chronic liver disease.

Currently, NASH is the most rapidly growing indication for LT in the US. Despite resurgence in ALD, NASH remains the second leading indication for LT.

Cirrhosis- and HCC-related mortality rates increased between 2007 and 2016 in the US. However, mortality rates in HCV-cirrhosis demonstrated a significant decline from 2014-2016, during the direct-acting antiviral era. Mortality rates for ALD/NAFLD-cirrhosis and HCC have continued to increase, while HBV-cirrhosis-related mortality declined during the 10-year period. Importantly, minorities had a disproportionately higher burden of ESLD-related mortality. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Background & Aims:The surge in unhealthy alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic may have detrimental effects on the rising burden of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) on liver transplantation (LT) in the US. We evaluated the impact of the pandemic on temporal trends for LT including ALD. Approach & Results: Utilizing data from United Network for Organ Sharing, we analyzed waitlist outcomes in the US through March 1, 2021. In a short-period analysis, patients listed or transplanted between June 1, 2019 and February 29, 2020 were defined as the "pre-COVID" era and after April 1, 2020 were defined as the "COVID" era. Interrupted time-series analyses utilizing monthly count data from 2016-2020 were constructed to evaluate rate change for listing and LT prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rates for listings (P=0.19) and LT (P=0.14) were unchanged during the pandemic despite a significant reduction in the monthly listing rates for HCV (-21.69%, P <0.001) and NASH (-13.18%; P <0.001). There was a significant increase in ALD listing (+7.26%; P <0.001) and LT (10.67%; P <0.001) during the pandemic. In the COVID era, ALD (40.1%) accounted for more listings than those due to HCV (12.4%) and NASH (23.4%) combined. The greatest increase in ALD occurred in young adults (+33%) and patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis (+50%). ALD patients presented with a higher acuity of illness, with 30.8% of listings and 44.8% of LT having a MELD-Na > 30. Conclusions: Since the start of COVID-19 pandemic, ALD has become the most common indication for listing and the fastest increasing cause for LT. Collective efforts are urgently needed to stem the rising tide of ALD on healthcare resources.