• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
New study finds millions of people could have aggressive deadly disease without even knowing

Home> News> Health

Published 15:32 6 Jun 2025 GMT+1

New study finds millions of people could have aggressive deadly disease without even knowing

Around 20 million people from the US, UK, Germany and France are believed to have the condition

Lucy Devine

Lucy Devine

Millions of people could have a deadly disease without even realising it, according to a recent study.

New research has revealed that over 15 million people from across the US, UK, Germany and France have a condition that they're completely unaware of.

The study, which was published in The Lancet Regional Health Europe, found that around 20 million people are suffering, with only 2.5 million having a diagnosis of the disease, while around three-quarters of those with the illness have no idea.

Advert

The health condition can progress through four stages, with most people only developing the first stage, often without being aware of it.

However, in some cases, it can develop and eventually lead to liver damage if not treated.

15 million people could be unaware that they have fatty liver disease (Getty Stock Photo)
15 million people could be unaware that they have fatty liver disease (Getty Stock Photo)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) - also known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) - occurs in those whose liver contains over five per cent fat and who consume little to no alcohol, with excessive alcohol consumption being referred to as an alcohol-related fatty liver disease.

Advert

The first and less severe stage is known as 'simple fatty liver' and is a build-up of fat in the liver cells (via Healthline).

Meanwhile, 'metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)' is a more serious form of the disease in which the liver is inflamed as a result of fat build-up.

Without treatment, the third stage - fibrosis - can occur, causing scar tissue around the liver. The most severe stage is cirrhosis, in which the liver tissue is gradually replaced with scar tissue, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This can lead to permanent liver failure and, in some cases, liver cancer.

The study has called for an increase in diagnosis rates, as Dr Jeffrey Lazarus, the lead author of the paper, said: "Undiagnosed MASH costs economies billions of pounds in lost productivity and poor health. Unless diagnosis rates are doubled, alongside similar increases in treatment and care, direct health costs alone are predicted to triple over the next 20 years."

Advert

An ultrasound scan can help diagnose fatty liver disease (Getty Stock Photo)
An ultrasound scan can help diagnose fatty liver disease (Getty Stock Photo)

Meanwhile, Emmanouil Tsochatzis, a professor of hepatology at University College London, added: "More than 15 million people across the US and Europe have the deadliest form of fatty liver disease – and don't know it. Without faster diagnosis and access to treatment, the human and economic toll will skyrocket."

According to the NHS, you're at an increased risk of NAFLD if you:

  • are obese or overweight
  • have type 2 diabetes
  • have a condition that impacts how your body uses insulin, such as polycystic ovary syndrome
  • have an underactive thyroid
  • have high blood pressure
  • have high cholesterol
  • have metabolic syndrome
  • are over 50
  • smoke

A blood test showing high levels of liver enzymes is often the first step to confirming a diagnosis.

Advert

Doctors may then order an ultrasound or CT scan, a biopsy or a FibroScan, which is a specialized ultrasound.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Fabio Camandona

Topics: Health, Science, News

Lucy Devine
Lucy Devine

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

27 mins ago
an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • 27 mins ago

    88 children removed from Bible study camp as part of shocking human trafficking investigation

    The Christian camp has insisted parents are still happy to send their children

    News
  • an hour ago

    Popular smartphone banned on all planes is still in circulation amid concerns of it overheating and exploding

    Some people on TikTok admitted they were still using the phone, despite it being recalled

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Husband of teacher accused of performing 45 'sexual acts' with student stands by her as she faces new accusations in court

    The former teacher is accused of a slew of crimes against the child

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Staggering amount tourists could be fined after shocking footage showed them breaking 'Van Gogh' chair

    The tourists could be in a lot more trouble than they thought

    News
  • Study finds that eating one common 'superfood' could cut Alzheimer's disease risk by almost 50%
  • Horrifying study reveals daily habit that millions of people do every day could cause brains to shrink
  • People break down the 5 symptoms you should never ignore that could be a sign of deadly cancer
  • Study finds three glasses of this common drink a day could prevent dementia