Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Changing terminology in the understanding of liver disease

Over the past few decades, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a major concern in global public health due to its rising prevalence, particularly with the increasing rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Traditionally, NAFLD was the primary term used to describe liver conditions characterized by fat accumulation in the liver, without significant alcohol consumption to explain it. However, recent developments in the field of hepatology have led to a shift in terminology, and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) is defined as presence of hepatic steatosis with one or more cardiometabolic risk factors, and no other identifiable cause of steatosis. Cardiometabolic risk factors are an increase in body mass index or waist circumference; impaired glucose metabolism; high blood pressure; high triglyceride levels; and low levels of high-density cholesterol.