Vilar-Gomez E, Vuppalanchi R, Mladenovic A, et al. - In the US, high-risk non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is estimated to be present in at least 2 million adults. Moreover, higher prevalence of high-risk NASH, ranging between 8.7% and 22.5%, has been observed in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), supporting the case for coordinated case-finding and management.

• Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2017-2018, adults with high-risk NASH were identified in the general population.

• The estimated prevalence of age-adjusted high-risk NASH, at 90% sensitivity for the FAST (FibroScan-AST [aspartate aminotransferase]) score, was 5.8% and was noted to be higher in males (8.2% vs 3.6% in females) and in Hispanics (9.2% vs 5.8% non-Hispanic (N.H.) Asians, 5.2% in N.H. Whites, and 3.8% in N.H. Blacks).

• In individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and those with T2DM, estimates for prevalence of high-risk NASH were 11.7% and 22.5%, respectively.

• At 90% specificity for the FAST score, age-adjusted high-risk NASH prevalence was estimated to be 1.2% and was higher in men (1.7% vs 0.8% in women) and in Hispanics (2.2% vs 1.0% in N.H. Asians, 0.9% in N.H. Whites, and 0.4% in N.H. Blacks).

• Prevalence of high-risk NASH was 3.4% and 8.7% in those with MetS and in adults with T2DM, respectively.