Evidence suggests that about 35–40% of people with early stage NAFLD experience fibrosis progression,[1][2] which can eventually lead to advanced liver cirrhosis and further complications such as liver cancer and failure, resulting in the need for liver transplantation. Therefore, it’s important to identify risk factors associated with the progression of NAFLD.
Meta-analyses of observational studies report that the strongest predictor of the progression of NAFLD to severe liver disease is the presence of type 2 diabetes.[3][4] Obesity is also associated with an increased risk of developing severe liver disease.[3][4]