Did you know that the U.S. NASH Action Plan is the first and only national action plan created to address the growing epidemic of NASH?
In 2021, GLI NASH Council partners collaborated to draft this set of actionable recommendations for the full spectrum of stakeholders involved in NASH prevention and treatment, including: patients and caregivers, clinicians, patient advocacy organizations, medical societies, industry, policymakers, regulators, health systems, and health insurance payers. Each critical intervention within this plan plays a vital role in elevating NASH to its rightful place on the national public health agenda commensurate with its prevalence and impact.
While there is still much work to be done to curtail the impact of fatty liver disease within our communities, we would like to celebrate recent wins: co-authoring an NCQA white paper outlining recommendations for increasing awareness and optimizing care for patients with NASH; GLI NASH Council member the American Heart Association issuing their first ever scientific statement on the correlation between NAFLD and CVD; and the release of GLI NASH Council member AACE Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of NAFLD in primary care and endocrinology clinical settings.
It is our goal, through the implementation of the U.S. NASH Action Plan, to engage stakeholders – foreign and domestic – and illustrate a sense of urgency in mobilizing their vast and varied resources to address the challenge of NAFLD and NASH. We invite you, again, to collaborate with us to establish action plans tailored to the needs of your countries and community
Donna R. Cryer, JD
President & CEO
Global Liver Institute
International NASH Day is on June 9, 2022!
International NASH Day annually advances the global movement to prevent and treat NASH. It is the premier collaboration of community leaders, healthcare providers, and industry, all informed by the patient voice. Across the globe there is an immediate need to relieve the heavy burden that NASH places on every community and important steps that everyone can take. It is time to #StopNASHNow.
This year, GLI is pleased to support grassroots efforts from around the globe that will raise awareness and promote diagnosis and care options in ways as unique as each community.
On June 9, GLI will be hosting a robust series of virtual educational panels covering topics such as:
- Addressing Challenges of NASH in 2022
- Leading Models for Care in NASH
- NASH Diagnostics & Beyond
- Navigating NASH: Perspectives from Black Pediatric Patients and their Families
- NASH Patients in their Own Voices
- The Challenges of NASH: What’s Next
Now entering its fifth year, we invite you to join us again as we mobilize our collective efforts to #StopNASHNow!
Get Involved
For additional information on International NASH Day, visit international-nash-day.com
Support the NASH Day social media campaign using hashtags #NASHday #StopNASHNow. Please direct any additional questions to NASHDay@globalliver.org.
Want #NASHday merchandise for you or your team? Shop at our store!
International NASH Day and its logo are registered trademarks of Global Liver Institute.
GLI Partner Initiatives and Events
- Fatty Liver Foundation – State of NAFLD/NASH Care in America Survey
- Hepatology Society, Dhaka, Bangladesh – Lifestyle Change for Fatty Liver, Obesity & Diabetes on May 25, 2022
- DiaLeb – National Diabetes Organization, Lebanon – Diabetes and NASH on June 10, 2022
- Liver Health Foundation – Webinar: NAFLD & NASH on June 15, 2022
NASH Patient Perspective
Importance of Receiving and Providing Support
Managing a NASH diagnosis is challenging for any person to manage. A support system made of friends and family can foster a healthy social and emotional context for self-care, making it easier for patients to achieve their health and behavior goals.
“I have been living with NASH for several years now and have been very surprised at the lack of support and understanding from family members, friends and even the medical personnel. I try to be positive and not let it get me down but sometimes it does, and it is hard to maintain a fat free, sugar free low calorie diet when you are an emotional eater from a very young age and have been eating everything in sight for over 50 years. Food was my comfort in childhood and now the very thing that brings me comfort is killing me. My family loves me, but they don’t get it that I have to stay on this diet 24/7/365 for my life. When I fall off the wagon it is so hard for me to get back on it. I have never found the emotional support I needed. I want to do all I can while I can, but it would be so nice to have people to talk to and share with and lift each other up.” -Kate
Kate’s testimonial reminds us that you do not have to be a healthcare professional to provide assistance to your loved ones. Family members can provide essential emotional support to patients facing the stresses of caring for their illness.
GLI Partner Highlight
American Heart Association
NAFLD is an underdiagnosed and underrecognized condition that affects approximately 25% of adults worldwide. In April 2022, the American Heart Association issued their first ever scientific statement on the correlation between NAFLD and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The publication provides an overview of risk factors and pathology of NAFLD and its links to CVD. It also considers NAFLD an aggravating factor for CVD and additionally calls for an improved measure of CVD and liver disease risk stratification. Read More
AACE & AASLD Release New Clinical Guidelines for Management of NAFLD
American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE) Co-Chairs, guideline task force experts, Kenneth Cusi, MD, FACP, FACE, and Scott D. Isaacs, MD, FACP, FACE, has released the new AACE Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of NAFLD in Primary Care and Endocrinology Clinical Settings. This guideline was developed by the AACE and co-sponsored by the AASLD to provide evidence-based recommendations regarding the diagnosis and management of NAFLD and NASH to endocrinologists, primary care clinicians, health care professionals, and other stakeholders.
GLI Advancing the NASH Agenda
A Rallying Cry: Improving Coordinated Care for People With Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
NASH symptoms are often silent in early stages, making it difficult to diagnose. As a result, NASH patients can remain unaware of their condition or undiagnosed until it progresses to cause irreversible harm, requiring complex and costly treatment. A new white paper co-authored by Donna Cryer, GLI CEO and founder, entitled A Rallying Cry: Improving Coordinated Care for People With Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis, summarizes a discussion by an expert roundtable convened by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and outlines recommendations for increasing awareness and optimizing care for patients with NASH.
Diet Changes When Young May Add a Decade to Your Life, Study Says
A new study suggests that life expectancy in the U.S. is shortening, in part, due to poor dietary choices. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2020 that life expectancy at birth in the U.S. declined by 1.5 years from 2019 to 2020. Contributing conditions included increases in diabetes, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. “The good news is that lifestyle changes can make a big difference for those with liver issues,” says Jeff McIntyre, NASH Program Director at Global Liver Institute. Read about what changes you can make to lead a healthier and longer life.
Endocrinologists and NASH
70% of people with type II diabetes have NAFLD. With this in mind, endocrinologists can provide additional support to their patients with diabetes by bringing this risk to their attention and helping those patients avoid developing NASH. Luckily, many of the lifestyle interventions to manage diabetes are also effective for NAFLD. Donna Cryer, President and CEO of GLI, shared about this connection in an interview with touchENDOCRINOLOGY.
