Clin Mol Hepatol.  2020 Apr;26(2):209-215. 10.3350/cmh.2019.0065.

Trends in the prevalence of chronic liver disease in theKorean adult population, 1998–2017

• Park SH
• Plank LD
• Suk KT
• Park YE
• Lee J
• Choi JH
• Heo NY
• Park J
• Kim TO
• Moon YS
• Kim HK
• Jang HJ
• Park HY
• Kim DJ

• KMID: 2500385
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3350/cmh.2019.0065

Abstract

Background/Aims
Data on the trends in the prevalence of chronic liver disease (CLD) in Korea are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate whether the CLD prevalence changed between 1998–2001 and 2016–2017.
Methods
Data were extracted from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1998–2001 to 2016– 2017; n=25,893). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was defined as a hepatic steatosis index >36 in the absence of any other evidence of CLD. The definition of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) was excessive alcohol consumption (≥210 g/week for men and ≥140 g/week for women) and an ALD/NAFLD index >0.
Results
The prevalence of NAFLD increased from 18.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.8–19.5%) in 1998–2001 to 21.5% (95% CI, 20.6–22.6%) in 2016–2017. During the same time period, increases were observed in the prevalence of obesity (27.0 vs. 35.1%), central obesity (29.4 vs. 36.0%), diabetes (7.5 vs. 10.6%), and excessive drinking (7.3 vs. 10.5%). ALD prevalence also increased from 3.8% (95% CI, 3.4–4.2%) to 7.0% (95% CI, 6.4–7.6%). In contrast, chronic hepatitis B decreased from 5.1% (95% CI, 4.6–5.5%) to 3.4% (95% CI, 3.0–3.8%). The prevalence of chronic hepatitis C was approximately 0.3% in 2016–2017.
Conclusions
The prevalence of NAFLD and ALD increase among Korean adults. Our results suggest potential targets for interventions to reduce the future burden of CLD.

Keyword

Alcoholic-related liver disease; Hepatitis B, Chronic; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Prevalence