A Latin American survey on demographic aspects of hospitalized, decompensated cirrhotic patients and the resources for their management

The burden of liver disease in Latin America

Liver disease poses a substantial burden in Latin America. This burden is primarily attributed to a high level of alcohol consumption and the increasing prevalence of risk factors associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), such as sedentary lifestyles, easy access to ultra-processed foods, obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. These epidemiological trends are cause for concern, especially considering that there are significant challenges in addressing them due to disparities in access to liver disease screening and care. In this article, we aim to provide an overview of the current situation regarding liver disease in Latin America. We also discuss recent multinational proposals designed to address the growing MASLD burden via its integration into existing non-communicable diseases policies, at both local and global levels. Additionally, we emphasize the urgent need to establish effective public health policies that target both MASLD risk factors and excessive alcohol consumption. Furthermore, we discuss the development of liver transplantation programs, areas for improvement in medical education and research capabilities, and how the fostering of extensive collaboration among all stakeholders is crucial for addressing liver disease in the region.

Liver transplantation in Latin America: reality and challenges

Healthcare systems in Latin America are broadly heterogeneous, but all of them are burdened by a dramatic rise in liver disease. Some challenges that these countries face include an increase in patients requiring a transplant, insufficient rates of organ donation, delayed referral, and inequitable or suboptimal access to liver transplant programs and post-transplant care. This could be improved by expanding the donor pool through the implementation of education programs for citizens and referring physicians, as well as the inclusion of extended criteria donors, living donors and split liver transplantation. Addressing these shortcomings will require national shifts aimed at improving infrastructure, increasing awareness of organ donation, training medical personnel, and providing equitable access to care for all patients.

Antibiotic resistance in patients with liver cirrhosis: Prevalence and current approach to tackle

Regardless of etiology, complications with bacterial infection in patients with cirrhosis are reported in the range of 25%-46% according to the most recent data. Due to frequent episodes of bacterial infection and repetitive antibiotic treatment, most often with broad-spectrum gram negative coverage, patients with cirrhosis are at increased risk of encountering multidrug resistant bacteria, and this raises concern. In such patients, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase and AmpC-producing Enterobacterales, methicillin- or vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococci, carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii, all of which are difficult to treat, are the most common. That is why novel approaches to the prophylaxis and treatment of bacterial infections to avoid antibiotic resistance have recently been developed. At the same time, our knowledge of resistance mechanisms is constantly updated. This review summarizes the current situation regarding the burden of antibiotic resistance, including the prevalence and mechanisms of intrinsic and acquired resistance in bacterial species that most frequently cause complications in patients with liver cirrhosis and recent developments on how to deal with multidrug resistant bacteria.

Geographical similarity and differences in the burden and genetic predisposition of NAFLD

NAFLD has become a major public health problem for more than 2 decades with a growing prevalence in parallel with the epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). The disease burden of NAFLD differs across geographical regions and ethnicities. Variations in prevalence of metabolic diseases, extent of urban-rural divide, dietary habits, lifestyles, and the prevalence of NAFLD risk and protective alleles can contribute to such differences. The rise in NAFLD has led to a remarkable increase in the number of cases of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatic decompensation, and liver-related mortality related to NAFLD. Moreover, NAFLD is associated with multiple extrahepatic manifestations. Most of them are risk factors for the progression of liver fibrosis and thus worsen the prognosis of NAFLD. All these comorbidities and complications affect the quality of life in subjects with NAFLD. Given the huge and growing size of the population with NAFLD, it is expected that patients, healthcare systems, and the economy will suffer from the ongoing burden related to NAFLD. In this review, we examine the disease burden of NAFLD across geographical areas and ethnicities, together with the distribution of some well-known genetic variants for NAFLD. We also describe some special populations including patients with T2D, lean patients, the pediatric population, and patients with concomitant liver diseases. We discuss extrahepatic outcomes, patient-reported outcomes, and economic burden related to NAFLD.

Liver Diseases in Latin America: Current Status, Unmet Needs, and Opportunities for Improvement

Purpose of review

To assess the current challenges regarding liver diseases, including the burden of disease, access to care, screening, and treatment needs in Latin America.

Recent findings

Latin America is a region with a rich multicultural heritage and important socioeconomic differences. The burden of liver diseases is high and mainly determined by a high level of alcohol intake and the surge of risk factors associated with NAFLD (i.e., sedentary lifestyles, broader access to highly processed foods, obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus). Hepatotropic viruses also play a role in the development of chronic liver diseases, although their comparative frequency has been decreasing over the last decades. There are important disparities in access to screening and treatment for liver diseases in Latin America, which are reflected in low access to critical treatments such as direct-acting antiviral agents and drugs to treat hepatocellular carcinoma. Also, important barriers to liver transplantation are present in multiple countries, including a low deceased donors’ rate and a lack of availability in several countries (especially in Central America). Our region also has disadvantages in research and education in liver diseases, which limits regional academic development and improvement in quality of care of liver diseases.

Summary

In order to tackle an increasing health burden due to liver diseases, Latin America urgently needs tailored interventions aiming to control the main risk factors for these disorders through the establishment of effective public health policies. Also, development of liver transplantation programs and improvement of medical education and research capabilities as well as extensive collaboration between all stakeholders are keys to address the liver disease agenda in the region.