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Apollo Hospitals, an integrated healthcare provider, has highlighted the importance of ultrasound imaging for the early detection of fatty liver disease. An analysis of 53,946 health checks conducted over the past year revealed that 33 per cent of individuals were diagnosed with fatty liver. However, only one in three of those diagnosed had elevated liver enzymes, indicating that relying solely on blood tests may not be sufficient for early detection and intervention.
Currently, the diagnosis of fatty liver disease primarily relies on patient history, physical examination, and blood tests, including liver enzyme levels and markers of liver function. Imaging studies such as ultrasound and fibro scan can detect fat accumulation in the liver even when enzyme levels appear normal. Despite its effectiveness, ultrasound is not always the first choice due to issues of accessibility and perceived necessity.
Dr. N. Murugan, Senior Consultant Hepatologist & Liver Transplant Physician at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, expressed concern about the lack of timely diagnosis for fatty liver disease (FLD), particularly metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). “The growing prevalence of MASLD in India, driven by rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, necessitates early and accurate detection through imaging techniques like ultrasound,” he said.
Dr. Akash Roy, Senior Hepatologist at Apollo Hospitals, Kolkata, emphasized the need for routine use of ultrasound for diagnosing fatty liver disease. “Early detection through ultrasound can lead to timely interventions, lifestyle modifications, and treatment plans that significantly improve patient outcomes,” he stated.
Weight reduction is a known method to reverse fatty liver in its early stages, with even a 5 to 10 per cent reduction in body weight significantly decreasing liver fat and inflammation.
Dr. Sathya Sriram, CEO of Preventive Health at Apollo Hospitals, highlighted the institution’s commitment to comprehensive and personalized health checks through Apollo ProHealth. “We have advocated for integrating ultrasound as a critical component of health checks due to its significant clinical benefits for true preventive care. We hope more healthcare providers will utilize imaging to enhance patient care, especially in the early detection of fatty liver disease,” she added.
Fatty liver disease is closely linked to obesity and diabetes, conditions indicative of metabolic dysfunction. Consuming excessive carbohydrates can lead to chronic high insulin levels, resulting in insulin resistance and the conversion of excess glucose into fatty acids stored in the liver. FLD can be classified into alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD/MASLD), with the latter potentially progressing to more severe conditions such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH/MASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis, or liver cancer.
Data Breakdown:
Total Screened: 53,946
Grade I Fatty Liver: 15,497 (29%)
Grade II Fatty Liver: 2,160 (4%)
Total Fatty Liver Cases: 17,657 (33%)
