(Photo by Liberty Times reporter Lin Chih-Yi)
The prevalence of fatty liver disease in Taiwan has reached approximately 30%, surpassing viral hepatitis to become the most common liver disease nationwide. This growing burden significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer among the population.
Under the leadership of the Taiwan Association for the Study of the Liver, a coalition comprising Novo Nordisk, Kaohsiung Medical University, National Sun Yat-sen University, and Taiwan Biomedical Big Data Technology has formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to launch the nation’s first “Intelligent Screening Program for Risk Stratification and Management of Metabolic Fatty Liver Disease and Obesity.”
Dr. Wan-Long Chuang, Director of the Center for Metabolic Disorders and Obesity at Kaohsiung Medical University, noted that patients with fatty liver disease often present with multiple comorbidities and receive care across different medical specialties. As a result, clinical information is frequently fragmented. Moreover, insufficient awareness of fatty liver disease among physicians in non-hepatology specialties may lead to missed identification of high-risk patients. In addition, unclear referral pathways increase the likelihood of care discontinuity, preventing patients from receiving comprehensive and continuous management.
Dr. Chuang emphasized that addressing fatty liver disease is a critical component of Taiwan’s broader health strategy. The Intelligent Screening Program for Risk Stratification and Management of Metabolic Fatty Liver Disease and Obesity is expected to expand to 25 hospitals within three years, with Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital serving as the first demonstration site.
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3成國人脂肪肝！智慧篩檢啟動 拚3年擴展至25家醫院（台灣肝臟研究學會）
脂肪肝盛行率35% 智慧篩檢啟動盼3年擴至25醫院（中央通訊社）