Increased risk of mortality by fibrosis stage in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Systematic review and meta‐analysis

Liver fibrosis is the most important predictor of mortality in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Quantitative risk of mortality by fibrosis stage has not been systematically evaluated. We aimed to quantify the fibrosis stage-specific risk of all-cause and liver-related mortality in NAFLD. Through a systematic review and meta-analysis, we identified five adult NAFLD cohort studies reporting fibrosis stage-specific mortality (0-4). Using fibrosis stage 0 as a reference population, fibrosis stage-specific mortality rate ratios (MRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause and liver-related mortality were estimated. The study is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic…

• BS
  Bristol-Myers Squibb
• GS
  Gilead Sciences
• AG
  American Gastroenterological Association

  Awards: R01-DK106419, K23-DK090303, 5T32DK007202
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: K23-DK090303, 5T32DK007202, DK090303, R01-DK106419, P42ES010337
• NI
  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

  Awards: DK090303, K23-DK090303, R01-DK106419-01, P42ES010337, 5T32DK007202, R01-DK106419
• NI
  National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

  Award: P42ES010337