Fatty liver disease, which often shows no symptoms, is rapidly increasing among young adults, highlighting the need for early detection through health screenings and weight management, according to a recent analysis.
Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance released findings on July 27, utilizing data from its health information platform to analyze the current state of liver disease treatment and changes in medical costs ahead of World Hepatitis Day on July 28.
The analysis revealed that the number of customers receiving insurance payouts for fatty liver disease nearly doubled, rising from 12,000 in 2015 to 23,000 last year.
Notably, the prevalence of fatty liver among individuals in their 20s increased from 148 per 100,000 people to 216 over the past decade, a rise of approximately 1.5 times. Similarly, the rate for those in their 30s grew from 355 to 443, an increase of more than 1.2 times during the same period.
Half of the patients with fatty liver also have metabolic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. However, fatty liver often presents no significant symptoms, leading to 79.9% of patients discovering their condition incidentally during health check-ups, with only 57.7% subsequently starting treatment.
Tracking 11,193 customers diagnosed with fatty liver over a decade, Samsung Fire & Marine found that 4.0% progressed to cirrhosis and 1.5% to liver cancer. The progression rate to cirrhosis for patients with diabetes was 5.2%, 1.3 percentage points higher than those without chronic diseases.
As liver disease worsens, the financial burden of medical costs increases significantly. Compared to chronic viral hepatitis, the per capita medical costs for cirrhosis patients are about 3.9 times higher, while those for liver cancer patients are approximately 7.3 times greater.
A representative from Samsung Fire & Marine stated, “Given the clear increase in fatty liver cases among young adults, early detection and management of high-risk groups are crucial. Active management, including liver fibrosis testing and weight loss, is necessary.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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