Millions worldwide are unknowingly at risk of heart failure due to a “silent” liver disease called Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). This chronic condition affects over a quarter of the global adult population, and in India, one in three adults or children may have it. The absence of obvious symptoms makes MASLD particularly dangerous.
What is MASLD?
Formerly known as Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), MASLD is the most common liver disease globally. It occurs when excess fat accumulates in the liver, leading to inflammation and scarring over time.
- Prevalence: up to 30% of the general population
- In people with obesity or type 2 diabetes: 70–90% prevalence
- Risk factors: high blood pressure, excess abdominal fat, unhealthy cholesterol, and advancing age
How MASLD Causes Heart Failure
A Duke University study (published in the European Journal of Heart Failure) found a strong link between MASLD and heart failure:
- Study group: 570 patients with biopsy-proven MASLD
- Follow-up period: 11 years
- Findings:
- 17.9% developed heart failure
- 47.9% showed signs of heart failure risk (abnormal biomarkers or heart scans)
- Nearly one-third had diastolic dysfunction
- Risk was higher in older patients and women
Doctors stressed the urgent need for early screening and diagnosis to prevent symptomatic heart failure in MASLD patients.
Early Signs of MASLD
MASLD develops slowly and often without symptoms. However, some warning signs may appear:
- Constant tiredness or fatigue
- General feeling of being unwell
- Discomfort or pain in the abdomen (under the right rib cage, where the liver is located)
When to See a Doctor
According to the British Liver Trust, seek immediate medical help if you notice:
- Yellowing of eyes or skin (jaundice)
- Easy bruising
- Dark urine
- Swelling in the abdomen (ascites)
- Vomiting blood
- Black, tar-like stools
- Confusion, memory problems, mood changes (encephalopathy)
- Persistent skin itching
