Epidemiological trends and burden of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in the Middle East and North Africa region: a 32-year analysis of health impact
Abstract Background Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a condition marked by excess liver fat, ranging from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Updated reports on the epidemiology of MASLD in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are needed. T...
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BMC
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00973-5 |
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| author | Zahra Sarkoohi Mohammad-Mahdi Bastan Mohammad Amin Khajuei Gharaei Mahsa Iranmanesh Arya Adinepour Reyhane Khajezade Faegheh Bahri Fatemeh Akhlaghi Azin Kadkhodamanesh Hossein Pourghadamyari Hamid Sharifi Omid Eslami Seyed Aria Nejadghaderi |
| author_facet | Zahra Sarkoohi Mohammad-Mahdi Bastan Mohammad Amin Khajuei Gharaei Mahsa Iranmanesh Arya Adinepour Reyhane Khajezade Faegheh Bahri Fatemeh Akhlaghi Azin Kadkhodamanesh Hossein Pourghadamyari Hamid Sharifi Omid Eslami Seyed Aria Nejadghaderi |
| author_sort | Zahra Sarkoohi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a condition marked by excess liver fat, ranging from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Updated reports on the epidemiology of MASLD in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are needed. This study aimed to report the trends in the MASLD burden in the MENA region from 1990 to 2021, as well as age and sex patterns and their association with the sociodemographic index (SDI). Methods Data on the incidence, prevalence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and mortality of MASLD in 21 countries within the MENA region from 1990 to 2021 were extracted from the GBD 2021 study. The relationship with the SDI and the burden attributable to risk factors, such as high fasting plasma glucose and smoking, were examined. Results Between 1990 and 2021, the MENA region experienced a 13.8% increase in the age-standardized incidence rate, reaching 1,037.6 per 100,000 population. The age-standardized prevalence saw a rise of 26.4%. Women experienced a higher increase in incidence than men. The highest rates of DALYs were observed among older adults. Countries with a high SDI faced a greater disease burden. High fasting plasma glucose accounted for the largest burden of MASLD. Conclusions The study found that the incidence and prevalence of MASLD in the MENA region increased significantly from 1990 to 2021, especially in areas with high SDI. High fasting plasma glucose was the most significant attributable risk factor, highlighting the need for metabolic interventions. Clinical trial number Not applicable. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e20674d207aa4ea3bd7cacc86605815e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2072-1315 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-e20674d207aa4ea3bd7cacc86605815e2025-08-20T03:22:50ZengBMCJournal of Health, Population and Nutrition2072-13152025-06-0144111510.1186/s41043-025-00973-5Epidemiological trends and burden of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in the Middle East and North Africa region: a 32-year analysis of health impactZahra Sarkoohi0Mohammad-Mahdi Bastan1Mohammad Amin Khajuei Gharaei2Mahsa Iranmanesh3Arya Adinepour4Reyhane Khajezade5Faegheh Bahri6Fatemeh Akhlaghi7Azin Kadkhodamanesh8Hossein Pourghadamyari9Hamid Sharifi10Omid Eslami11Seyed Aria Nejadghaderi12Student Research Committee, Razi Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kerman University of Medical SciencesHIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical SciencesStudent Research Committee, Afzalipour Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical SciencesStudent Research Committee, Razi Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kerman University of Medical SciencesStudent Research Committee, Afzalipour Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical SciencesStudent Research Committee, Faculty of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Afzalipour Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical SciencesStudent Research Committee, Razi Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kerman University of Medical SciencesHIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Afzalipour Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical SciencesHIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical SciencesGastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical SciencesHIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a condition marked by excess liver fat, ranging from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Updated reports on the epidemiology of MASLD in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are needed. This study aimed to report the trends in the MASLD burden in the MENA region from 1990 to 2021, as well as age and sex patterns and their association with the sociodemographic index (SDI). Methods Data on the incidence, prevalence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and mortality of MASLD in 21 countries within the MENA region from 1990 to 2021 were extracted from the GBD 2021 study. The relationship with the SDI and the burden attributable to risk factors, such as high fasting plasma glucose and smoking, were examined. Results Between 1990 and 2021, the MENA region experienced a 13.8% increase in the age-standardized incidence rate, reaching 1,037.6 per 100,000 population. The age-standardized prevalence saw a rise of 26.4%. Women experienced a higher increase in incidence than men. The highest rates of DALYs were observed among older adults. Countries with a high SDI faced a greater disease burden. High fasting plasma glucose accounted for the largest burden of MASLD. Conclusions The study found that the incidence and prevalence of MASLD in the MENA region increased significantly from 1990 to 2021, especially in areas with high SDI. High fasting plasma glucose was the most significant attributable risk factor, highlighting the need for metabolic interventions. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00973-5Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver diseaseMASLDDisability-adjusted life yearsPrevalenceIncidenceMiddle East |
| spellingShingle | Zahra Sarkoohi Mohammad-Mahdi Bastan Mohammad Amin Khajuei Gharaei Mahsa Iranmanesh Arya Adinepour Reyhane Khajezade Faegheh Bahri Fatemeh Akhlaghi Azin Kadkhodamanesh Hossein Pourghadamyari Hamid Sharifi Omid Eslami Seyed Aria Nejadghaderi Epidemiological trends and burden of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in the Middle East and North Africa region: a 32-year analysis of health impact Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease MASLD Disability-adjusted life years Prevalence Incidence Middle East |
| title | Epidemiological trends and burden of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in the Middle East and North Africa region: a 32-year analysis of health impact |
| title_full | Epidemiological trends and burden of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in the Middle East and North Africa region: a 32-year analysis of health impact |
| title_fullStr | Epidemiological trends and burden of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in the Middle East and North Africa region: a 32-year analysis of health impact |
| title_full_unstemmed | Epidemiological trends and burden of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in the Middle East and North Africa region: a 32-year analysis of health impact |
| title_short | Epidemiological trends and burden of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in the Middle East and North Africa region: a 32-year analysis of health impact |
| title_sort | epidemiological trends and burden of metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease in the middle east and north africa region a 32 year analysis of health impact |
| topic | Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease MASLD Disability-adjusted life years Prevalence Incidence Middle East |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00973-5 |
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