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abstractpubmed· Abstract 2021· item PMID:34619251

Asian perspective on NAFLD-associated HCC. Recent data suggest that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a major public health problem in Asia, with an updated population prevalence of 34%. Alongside, NAFLD-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is also on the rise. In this review, we describe the changing epidemiology of HCC in Asia over the past 30 years. While traditional risk factors of HCC (older age, male sex and metabolic factors) are also important in Asia, the PNPLA3 gene polymorphism is particularly prevalent in East Asia and may increase the risk of HCC. NAFLD among non-obese individuals is also commonly described in Asia. Because NAFLD is often undiagnosed, few patients receive HCC surveillance, and the target surveillance population beyond patients with cirrhosis remains poorly defined. As a result, NAFLD-associated HCC is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, rendering curative treatment impossible. Finally, despite around 20-30 years of universal vaccination, chronic hepatitis B virus infection remains prevalent in Asia, and emerging evidence highlights the importance of metabolic factors and concomitant hepatic steatosis in HCC development. Future studies should explore the role of metabolic treatments in HCC prevention among patients with hepatic steatosis and concomitant liver diseases.