Romania faces high prevalence of MASLD fatty liver disease

A scientific consensus published in the Journal of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases on August 18, 2026, estimates that approximately 30% to 33% of adults in Romania may suffer from Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), formerly known as fatty liver disease. This represents between 4.5 and 5.1 million people.

Medical experts, including Dr. Mihail Pautov, warn that the condition is often asymptomatic in its early stages, meaning many patients remain unaware of the risk until significant damage has occurred. Among those affected, an estimated 225,000 to 410,000 individuals may have already progressed to MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis) accompanied by liver fibrosis.

If left unmanaged, the condition can lead to severe complications such as portal hypertension, hepatic cancer, cirrhosis, and even brain dysfunction due to the liver's inability to filter toxins. The progression from simple fat accumulation to inflammation, fibrosis, and eventually cirrhosis involves the replacement of healthy liver tissue with scar tissue, which can become difficult to reverse over time.