Global Liver Institute – Kuwait Financial Express http://www.kuwaitfinancialexpress.com Tue, 12 Dec 2023 20:21:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.3.2 Doctors and Experts around the World Call for Urgent Action to Prevent Liver Health Crisis http://www.kuwaitfinancialexpress.com/doctors-and-experts-around-the-world-call-for-urgent-action-to-prevent-liver-health-crisis/ Tue, 12 Dec 2023 20:21:22 +0000 http://www.kuwaitfinancialexpress.com/?p=309319 Washington D.C., Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global Liver Institute (GLI), the premier patient–led liver health nonprofit operating globally, released the second edition of its "Global State of Liver Health" report, now including 22 countries covering every region of the world. Following the impetus of the Liver Health is Public Health initiative, international experts drew attention to pressing opportunities for their respective governments to prioritize and improve liver health.

Liver disease continues to pose a heavy burden for the world and its health systems:

"Our continued exploration of the scope and scale of the impact of liver diseases gives us both pause and hope. Powerful human intellect has developed many innovative solutions," noted GLI CEO Donna R. Cryer, JD. "Rather than let these solutions go to waste, it is now time to direct political will towards putting them into practice and ensuring the ability to achieve liver health "" and overall health "" around the world."

Strategies and technologies currently exist that can prevent liver disease or catch it early. However, putting these tools into practice can require financial investment, expert training, and often complex execution on a scale that necessitates government support. Several of the report's expert advisors highlighted the policy opportunities and successes that might support liver health:

"We don't have many tools currently to control tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, and even the consumption of unhealthy diets in Vietnam," shared Dr. Tung Pham, report advisor and lecturer /physician at Hanoi Medical University. "These are the second and third leading factors, so a tightening of standards, maybe raising taxes and implementing other promotional programs, will be essential."

In contrast, a liberal treatment program that provided newly developed hepatitis C treatment to patients in Australia without many barriers has eliminated more than half of the viral disease throughout the country. As report advisor and leading hepatologist Dr. Simone Strasser noted in the report, several features brought about a successful program, including comprehensive training of primary care providers, minimal direct cost to patients, and local access to treatment.

National experts have identified the greatest threats to liver health in their communities. Now, those who care about liver health and its related conditions must urge their national leaders to prioritize and implement solutions.

The Liver Health is Public Health initiative is made possible thanks to the support of Sanofi and Salix Pharmaceuticals.

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About Global Liver Institute

Global Liver Institute (GLI) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in the belief that liver health must take its place on the global public health agenda commensurate with the prevalence and impact of liver illness. GLI promotes innovation, encourages collaboration, and supports the scaling of optimal approaches to help eradicate liver diseases. Operating globally, GLI is committed to solving the problems that matter to liver patients and equipping advocates to improve the lives of individuals and families impacted by liver disease. GLI holds Platinum Transparency with Candid/GuideStar, is a member of the National Health Council, and serves as a Healthy People 2030 Champion. Follow GLI on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube or visit www.globalliver.org.

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Growth in Patient and Medical Community Engagement in NASH Community Persists Despite Recent Regulatory Disappointment http://www.kuwaitfinancialexpress.com/growth-in-patient-and-medical-community-engagement-in-nash-community-persists-despite-recent-regulatory-disappointment/ Thu, 08 Jun 2023 11:19:45 +0000 http://www.kuwaitfinancialexpress.com/?p=307787 Washington, D.C., June 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today is International NASH Day, a time where healthcare experts and community members around the globe step up and raise awareness of the most common liver disease in the world "" nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) "" and it's more severe form, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
Fatty liver disease is a condition in which excess fat builds up in the liver, which can lead to scarring and cirrhosis (permanent damage that impairs liver function). An estimated 25% of the global population, or about 2 billion people, are affected by NAFLD. 20% of those with NAFLD progress to NASH.
International NASH Day 2023 is endorsed by 30 medical specialty societies from around the world, and more than 50 global organizations, from research institutions to community organizations to medical centers and more, will be hosting events to inform and educate their communities.
"By releasing new, multilingual resources to help patients access NASH diagnostics and treatment, leading even more awareness and educational events worldwide, and continuing to foster opportunities for patients to step up and speak out, GLI and its partners are stepping up for those with or at risk of NASH this year," shared Donna R. Cryer, JD, President and CEO of Global Liver Institute. "We have been heartened through collaboration with the broader patient advocacy community on health technology assessment (HTA) and regulatory processes. Together we have made certain that the patient voice is the clear, powerful force that it ought to be."
While NASH can develop at any point in life, many of the factors that heighten an individual's risk of developing NASH are well–known, including overweight or obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Despite established risk factors, too often patients in high–risk groups are still not triaged, not screened, and not connected to the care they require. We are grateful that, just this year, several societies have updated their treatment guidelines for identifying and caring for NAFLD/NASH to reflect our best current understanding of the disease. We are grateful to the scientists who have expanded our understanding of "" and ability to control "" the disease. It is time for health systems to step up and invest effort in operationalizing these new guidelines.

We urge health system leaders to step up and examine the NASH patient pathway, identify where patients are lost, and bolster those processes.
We encourage primary care and endocrinology providers to step up and learn which of their patients are at heightened risk of NAFLD/NASH "" and to connect them to the screening they need.
We challenge the media to step up against the stigma and cover stories about NAFLD/NASH and liver health, especially when discussing obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other risk factors.
We implore regulators to step up for the livelihood of the millions of patients around the world whose lives are affected by NAFLD/NASH.

Clear, strong connections between primary care providers, specialists, and intervention support are all critical "" and within reach "" to help more patients find and stop the progression of NASH while they have the opportunity.
"It can be overwhelming how widespread the chronic, progressive disease of NAFLD and NASH has become. Those at risk should know they are supported and empowered to step up for a healthier liver," encouraged Jeff McIntyre, VP of Liver Health Programs at Global Liver Institute. "Ask your doctor for a screening if you have a risk factor "" and receive the treatment you need before the disease progresses. Individuals can make small changes with big impacts to support better liver health through better nutrition and incorporating more movement into their daily habits. Although fatty liver disease can progress, it can be controlled if caught early. Get screened now for a healthy liver."
It's time to #StepUpforNASH!

Join the Movement
Get tested! Check if you are at risk for NAFLD/NASH and make a note to talk to your primary care provider at your next appointment.
Support the #NASHday social media campaign using hashtags #NASHday #StepUpforNASH. Please direct any additional questions to NASHday@globalliver.org.

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About Global Liver Institute
Global Liver Institute (GLI) is a patient–driven 501(c)3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices in the EU and UK, founded in the belief that liver health must take its place on the global public health agenda commensurate with the prevalence and impact of liver disease and the importance of liver health to well–being. GLI promotes innovation, encourages collaboration, and supports the scaling of optimal approaches to improve research, care, and policy. By bringing together more than 200 community–based, national, and international organizations across its councils, campaigns, and events, GLI equips advocates to identify and solve the problems that matter to liver patients. Follow GLI on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. GLI is the global host of International NASH Day.
International NASH Day and its logo are registered trademarks of Global Liver Institute.


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International NASH Day Highlights a Common – But Unfamiliar – Liver Disease http://www.kuwaitfinancialexpress.com/international-nash-day-highlights-a-common-but-unfamiliar-liver-disease/ Wed, 08 Jun 2022 22:04:48 +0000 http://www.kuwaitfinancialexpress.com/?p=306025 Washington, D.C., June 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global Liver Institute (GLI) calls attention to NASH by leading the 5th annual International NASH Day on June 9. The number of people with this advanced liver disease is expected to double by 2030, but #NASHday aims to prevent this growth. Join the movement to #StopNASHNow by listening in as 24 expert panelists from around the globe share the latest updates about the disease or adding to the conversation on social media (#NASHday). The movement permeates the globe through many locally–organized events to educate about, screen for, and prevent NASH.

NASH (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis) is a serious, progressive condition in which too much fat accumulates on the liver, leading to its inflammation and injury. It is the severe form of NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease). Modern lifestyle and dietary patterns have contributed to increased prevalence of NASH and NAFLD around the world, and it is becoming the most common cause of liver disease. Given its widespread impact and the possibility of prevention in most cases of this disease, NASH emerges as a global health priority.

"With over a hundred million people worldwide already who have NASH and several times more in the earlier stages, people have reason to know about this progressive condition and what they can do today to combat it," shared Donna R. Cryer, president and CEO of GLI. "Collective action is imperative to be certain that individuals in each community, no matter their background or environment, are informed and equipped to prevent fatty liver disease. The momentum that we build together today must advance and sustain the global fight against NASH."

If you didn't know, then now you know! Even though NASH is common, it remains relatively unknown, leaving much work to be done to increase public awareness. This year, GLI and its partners join with the theme to #StopNASHNow: Even as therapies for NASH are being developed, there are many steps that people and their doctors can take today to prevent, reverse, or slow the progression of fatty liver disease. For the 25% of adults already affected worldwide, it is due time for this life–changing knowledge.

  • An estimated 1 in 4 adults around the world already has NAFLD.
  • As many as 1 in 20 people has NASH.
  • The prevalence of NAFLD is increasing among all global regions and among all ethnicities in parallel with diabetes and obesity.
  • NASH can progress to cirrhosis or liver cancer "" which may necessitate a liver transplant.

"International NASH Day demonstrates the potential that is realized as all stakeholders in NASH come together worldwide," said Jeff McIntyre, NASH Programs Director at GLI. "From in–person screenings in at–risk communities to educational materials in 16 languages to challenging conversations with researchers, providers, and patients "" today the world joins to create meaningful solutions for patients at every stage of NAFLD and NASH."

International NASH Day has garnered the endorsement of prominent organizations from around the globe: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD); Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists (ABGH); Asociacin Latinoamericana para el Estudio del Hgado (ALEH); Associazione Italiana Studio del Fegato (AISF); Asociacin Mexicana de Hepatologa (AMH); Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL); Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver (CASL); Conference on Liver Disease in Africa (COLDA); European African Treatment Advocates Network (EATAN); European Fatty Liver Conference (EFLC); European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN); EU Patient–Centric Clinical Trial Platforms (EU–PEARL); Fondazione Epatocentro Ticino; Hepatology Society, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Hepatology Society of the Philippines (HSP); Indian National Association for the Study of the Liver (INASL); North American Society For Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition (NASPGHAN); Sociedad Argentina de Hepatologia (SAHE);Turkish Association for the Study of the Liver (TASL); United European Gastroenterology (UEG); World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO); and World Patients Alliance (WPA).

Get Involved

To view the expert panels throughout the day today, visit https://hopin.com/events/5th–annual–international–nash–day/registration. Panels are available in English, French, Hindi, Mandarin, and Spanish throughout the day.

For additional information on International NASH Day, visit www.international–nash–day.com.

Support the NASH Day social media campaign using hashtags #NASHday #StopNASHNow. Please direct any additional questions to NASHDay@globalliver.org.

International NASH Day and its logo are registered trademarks of Global Liver Institute.

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About Global Liver Institute

Global Liver Institute (GLI) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in the belief that liver health must take its place on the global public health agenda commensurate with the prevalence and impact of liver illness. GLI promotes innovation, encourages collaboration, and supports the scaling of optimal approaches to help eradicate liver diseases. Operating globally, GLI is committed to solving the problems that matter to liver patients and equipping advocates to improve the lives of individuals and families impacted by liver disease. Follow GLI on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. GLI is the global host of International NASH Day.


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