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Europe's Liver Disease Response Lags
10 Jun
Summary
- Nearly a third of Europe's population has fatty liver disease.
- Only Spain and UK have proposed action plans, developed by NGOs.
- Lazarus recommends a European action plan for prevention and monitoring.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD/NASH) is a growing public health concern in Europe, affecting nearly a third of the population. A study published in May 2026 revealed significant deficiencies in public health strategies, clinical guidelines, and disease classification systems across most European nations.
An assessment of 28 European countries found that only Spain and the UK have proposed action plans, and these were initiated by non-governmental organizations. Fifteen countries have clinical practice guidelines, but they often adopt conservative diagnostic approaches, limiting testing for individuals with common comorbidities like obesity and diabetes.
To combat this crisis, researchers recommend a legislative strategy through the European Parliament. Key proposals include a unified European action plan for prevention and monitoring, integrating steatotic liver disease into universal health coverage, strengthening nutritional guidance regulations, and enhancing population surveillance through primary care data systems.
