David A Sheridan1, Guru Aithal2, William Alazawi3, Michael Allison4, Quentin Anstee5, Jeremy Cobbold6, Shahid Khan7, Andrew Fowell8, Stuart McPherson9, Philip N Newsome10,11, Jude Oben12, Jeremy Tomlinson13, Emmanouil Tsochatzis14. 1. Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine, Plymouth University, Plymouth, UK. 2. Biomedical Research Unit, NIHR Nottingham Digestive Diseases, Nottingham, UK. 3. Queen Mary, University of London and Bart's Health NHS Trust, London, UK. 4. Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK. 5. Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, UK. 6. John Radcliffe, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, UK. 7. Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. 8. Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UK. 9. Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust. 10. National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Birmingham Liver Biomedical Research Unit and Centre for Liver Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. 11. Liver Unit, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. 12. University College London, and Guys and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. 13. Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Oxford University, Oxford, UK. 14. Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Division of Medicine, University College London and Royal Free Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Guidelines for the assessment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have been published in 2016 by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and European Associations for the study of the Liver-European Association for the study of Diabetes-European Association for the study of Obesity. Prior to publication of these guidelines, we performed a cross-sectional survey of gastroenterologists and hepatologists regarding NAFLD diagnosis and management. DESIGN: An online survey was circulated to members of British Association for the Study of the Liver and British Society of Gastroenterology between February 2016 and May 2016. RESULTS: 175 gastroenterologists/hepatologists responded, 116 completing the survey, representing 84 UK centres. 22% had local NAFLD guidelines. 45% received >300 referrals per year from primary care for investigation of abnormal liver function tests (LFTs). Clinical assessment tended to be performed in secondary rather than primary care including body mass index (82% vs 26%) and non-invasive liver screen (86% vs 32%) and ultrasound (81% vs 37%). Widely used tools for non-invasive fibrosis risk stratification were aspartate transaminase (AST)/alanine transaminase (ALT) ratio (53%), Fibroscan (50%) and NAFLD fibrosis score (41%). 78% considered liver biopsy in selected cases. 50% recommended 10% weight loss target as first-line treatment. Delivery of lifestyle interventions was mostly handed back to primary care (56%). A minority have direct access to community weight management services (22%). Follow-up was favoured by F3/4 fibrosis (72.9%), and high-risk non-invasive fibrosis tests (51%). Discharge was favoured by simple steatosis at biopsy (30%), and low-risk non-invasive scores (25%). CONCLUSIONS: The survey highlights areas for improvement of service provision for NAFLD assessment including improved recognition of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in people with type 2 diabetes, streamlining abnormal LFT referral pathways, defining non-invasive liver fibrosis assessment tools, use of liver biopsy, managing metabolic syndrome features and improved access to lifestyle interventions.
OBJECTIVE: Guidelines for the assessment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have been published in 2016 by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and European Associations for the study of the Liver-European Association for the study of Diabetes-European Association for the study of Obesity. Prior to publication of these guidelines, we performed a cross-sectional survey of gastroenterologists and hepatologists regarding NAFLD diagnosis and management. DESIGN: An online survey was circulated to members of British Association for the Study of the Liver and British Society of Gastroenterology between February 2016 and May 2016. RESULTS: 175 gastroenterologists/hepatologists responded, 116 completing the survey, representing 84 UK centres. 22% had local NAFLD guidelines. 45% received >300 referrals per year from primary care for investigation of abnormal liver function tests (LFTs). Clinical assessment tended to be performed in secondary rather than primary care including body mass index (82% vs 26%) and non-invasive liver screen (86% vs 32%) and ultrasound (81% vs 37%). Widely used tools for non-invasive fibrosis risk stratification were aspartate transaminase (AST)/alanine transaminase (ALT) ratio (53%), Fibroscan (50%) and NAFLD fibrosis score (41%). 78% considered liver biopsy in selected cases. 50% recommended 10% weight loss target as first-line treatment. Delivery of lifestyle interventions was mostly handed back to primary care (56%). A minority have direct access to community weight management services (22%). Follow-up was favoured by F3/4 fibrosis (72.9%), and high-risk non-invasive fibrosis tests (51%). Discharge was favoured by simple steatosis at biopsy (30%), and low-risk non-invasive scores (25%). CONCLUSIONS: The survey highlights areas for improvement of service provision for NAFLD assessment including improved recognition of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in people with type 2 diabetes, streamlining abnormal LFT referral pathways, defining non-invasive liver fibrosis assessment tools, use of liver biopsy, managing metabolic syndrome features and improved access to lifestyle interventions.
Entities:
Keywords:
FATTY LIVER; LIVER BIOPSY; LIVER FUNCTION TEST; NONALCOHOLIC STEATOHEPATITIS
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