Metabolic dysfunction associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD): the next medical tsunami among aging adults across Canada

One in four Canadians has liver damage due to fat, known as fatty liver disease — but most are unaware. This condition is more likely to occur in people with diabetes and other metabolic conditions (i.e., obesity, high -cholesterol, -triglycerides and -blood pressure). The presence of both metabolic conditions and fatty liver disease (MAFLD) increases the chance of advanced liver damage. Using data from the CLSA, we plan to investigate the intertwining relationship between alanine aminotransferase (ALT) — a routinely used blood test to examine liver damage — and metabolic conditions. We will examine the percentage of people at risk of advanced liver disease, and evaluate how aging affects this risk, including exploring how risk factors overlap to create sub-groups of people at risk. We will also map the concentration of people at high risk of MALFD to specialists and specialized medical devices used to monitor liver disease to identify areas requiring more services.