Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and women's health

Abstract

This article is aimed to summarize data on the incidence and patterns of the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) course among women of different age. The prevalence of NAFLD is growing worldwide. In general, the incidence of this liver disease in men is higher than in women. However, a detailed examination of various age groups revealed that in women of reproductive age, the NAFLD incidence was lower than in men; at the same time, after menopause, the disease incidence in women became equal to the incidence in men, even exceeded it according to some data. Ongoing epidemiological, clinical and experimental studies indicate a higher risk of NAFLD and liver fibrosis in women with postmenopause versus woman with premenopause, as well as that older women with NAFLD have a higher mortality rate than men. One of the key roles in metabolic changes that contribute, in particular, to the NAFLD development is assigned to estrogens. The relevance of the NAFLD detection and treatment in women is due to a significantly higher prevalence of age-adjusted cardiovascular diseases, 5-year mortality from all causes and 5-year cardiovascular mortality versus women without NAFLD. KEYWORDS: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, fibrosis, steatosis, menopause, premenopause, pregnancy, estrogens, ursodeoxycholic acid. FOR CITATION: Livzan M.A., Syrovenko M.I., Krolevets T.S. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and women's health. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2023;7(5):310–317 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2023-7-5-9.