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Peer-reviewedCC BYDiabetologia

MASLD prevalence, incidence and global aspects

  • Sarah H. Wild1
  • Jeffrey Victor Lazarus2,3,4
  • C Wendy Spearman5
  • Ponsiano Ocama6
  • Josh Bilson7
  • Xiaodong Zhou8
  • Ming‐Hua Zheng8
  • Christopher D. Byrne9
9 affiliations
  1. 1Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. [email protected]
  2. 2Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
  3. 3City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH), New York, NY, USA
  4. 4Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
  5. 5Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
  6. 6Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
  7. 7National Institute for Health and Care Research, Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton and University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
  8. 8Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
  9. 9National Institute for Health and Care Research, Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton and University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. [email protected]
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Abstract

Over the last decade it has become clear that obesity and type 2 diabetes are key to the aetiology, pathogenesis and outcomes of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The considerable current and potential burden of MASLD on patients and healthcare systems is therefore inextricably linked with today's global epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes. In this review, we discuss estimates of the global MASLD burden in terms of prevalence, incidence, disability from complications and reduced life expectancy associated with the condition. We also highlight the variability in MASLD prevalence estimates among different populations, with a particular focus on the sub-Saharan Africa and Asia Pacific regions, where population increases and the epidemiological transition (a sustained shift in population mortality and disease patterns from infectious diseases towards non-communicable diseases) are occurring most rapidly. Additionally, we consider the impact of social determinants of health, including socioeconomic conditions, structural inequities, care access, food environments and systemic discrimination. We also identify opportunities to advance equity in MASLD prevention, diagnosis and treatment worldwide.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{wild2026masld,
  title = {{MASLD prevalence, incidence and global aspects}},
  author = {Sarah H. Wild and Jeffrey Victor Lazarus and C Wendy Spearman and Ponsiano Ocama and Josh Bilson and Xiaodong Zhou and Ming‐Hua Zheng and Christopher D. Byrne},
  journal = {Diabetologia},
  year = {2026},
  month = may,
  doi = {10.1007/s00125-026-06726-1},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-026-06726-1},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - MASLD prevalence, incidence and global aspects
AU  - Sarah H. Wild
AU  - Jeffrey Victor Lazarus
AU  - C Wendy Spearman
AU  - Ponsiano Ocama
AU  - Josh Bilson
AU  - Xiaodong Zhou
AU  - Ming‐Hua Zheng
AU  - Christopher D. Byrne
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/21
JO  - Diabetologia
DO  - 10.1007/s00125-026-06726-1
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-026-06726-1
AB  - Over the last decade it has become clear that obesity and type 2 diabetes are key to the aetiology, pathogenesis and outcomes of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The considerable current and potential burden of MASLD on patients and healthcare systems is therefore inextricably linked with today's global epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes. In this review, we discuss estimates of the global MASLD burden in terms of prevalence, incidence, disability from complications and reduced life expectancy associated with the condition. We also highlight the variability in MASLD prevalence estimates among different populations, with a particular focus on the sub-Saharan Africa and Asia Pacific regions, where population increases and the epidemiological transition (a sustained shift in population mortality and disease patterns from infectious diseases towards non-communicable diseases) are occurring most rapidly. Additionally, we consider the impact of social determinants of health, including socioeconomic conditions, structural inequities, care access, food environments and systemic discrimination. We also identify opportunities to advance equity in MASLD prevention, diagnosis and treatment worldwide.
SN  - 0012-186X
SN  - 1432-0428
ER  -