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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 14, 2026; 32(46): 127449
Published online Dec 14, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.127449
Published online Dec 14, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.127449
Global epidemiology of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: 2026 update
Tie Xiao, Xiao-Dong Zhou, Ming-Hua Zheng, MAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China
Tie Xiao, Xiao-Dong Zhou, Ming-Hua Zheng, Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment for the Development of Chronic Liver Disease in Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China
Nicholas WS Chew, Department of Cardiology, National University Heart Centre, National University Health System, Singapore 119228, Singapore
Giovanni Targher, Metabolic Diseases Research Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore - Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella (VR), and Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Verona, Verona 37126, Italy
Christopher D Byrne, Southampton National Institute for Health and Care Research, Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, and University of Southampton, South
Gregory YH Lip, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, Liverpool L14 3PE, United Kingdom
Gregory YH Lip, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg 9260, Denmark
Gregory YH Lip, Department of Cardiology, Lipidology and Internal Medicine with Intensive Coronary Care Unit, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok 15-276, Poland
Co-corresponding authors: Xiao-Dong Zhou and Ming-Hua Zheng.
Author contributions: Zhou XD and Zheng MH contributed equally to this work and they are co-corresponding authors. Zhou XD and Zheng MH conceptualized and designed the study, supervised, and made critical revisions; Xiao T conducted the literature review, created the artwork, and drafted the original manuscript; Chew NWS, Targher G, Byrne CD, and Lip GYH made critical revisions; and all authors prepared the draft and approved the submitted version.
AI contribution statement: This manuscript was not produced using AI tools.
Conflict-of-interest statement: Zheng MH serves as a speaker for AstraZeneca, Hisky Medical Technologies, and Novo Nordisk; as a consultant for Boehringer Ingelheim and Eieling Technology; and has received consulting fees from Boehringer Ingelheim. Byrne CD has received research funding from Echosens. No other disclosures were reported.
Corresponding author: Ming-Hua Zheng, MAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No. 2 Fuxue Lane, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China. zhengmh@wmu.edu.cn
Received: September 2, 2026
Revised: October 5, 2026
Accepted: October 14, 2026
Published online: December 14, 2026
Processing time: 52 Days and 12.8 Hours
Revised: October 5, 2026
Accepted: October 14, 2026
Published online: December 14, 2026
Processing time: 52 Days and 12.8 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: The epidemiology of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is rapidly evolving, driven by a rising global burden and shifting patterns across populations. MASLD is no longer viewed as a simple liver-specific disease but as a condition associated with a broad spectrum of hepatic and extrahepatic complications. Advances in non-invasive diagnostics and new pharmacotherapies are reshaping approaches to disease detection and management. This narrative review summarizes recent updates on MASLD epidemiology and discusses their implications for clinical practice.