Epidemiology and risk factor of non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases in Iran and worldwide: A literature review

Over the past two decades, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has progressed from a relatively unknown disease to one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease with an increasing prevalence that can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. Due to the obesity prevalence and the increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver and its progressive form, Non - Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), is more common in different parts of the world. However, there is no exact and non-invasive way to diagnose this disease. It is estimated that the obesity prevalence will continue to exacerbate non-alcoholic fatty liver prevalence and its long-term complications, leading to enormous clinical and economic burdens. This article reviews the epidemiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Iran and the world and related risk factors. Google Scholar and PubMed databases were used to identify studies on the epidemiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver worldwide.