Liu XL, Fan JG. Letter to the Editor: Prevention and management of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Insights from Egypt and implications for China. World J Gastroenterol 2026; 32(32): 117644 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.117644]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Jian-Gao Fan, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 1665 Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200092, China. fattyliver2004@126.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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letter
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Liu XL, Fan JG. Letter to the Editor: Prevention and management of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Insights from Egypt and implications for China. World J Gastroenterol 2026; 32(32): 117644 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.117644]
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 28, 2026; 32(32): 117644 Published online Aug 28, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.117644
Letter to the Editor: Prevention and management of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Insights from Egypt and implications for China
Xiao-Lin Liu, Jian-Gao Fan
Xiao-Lin Liu, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu Province, China
Jian-Gao Fan, Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
Author contributions: Liu XL designed and wrote the manuscript; Fan JG designed and approved the final manuscript; and all authors thoroughly reviewed and endorsed the final manuscript.
Supported by the Noncommunicable Chronic Disease-National Science and Technology Major Project of China, No. 2023ZD0508700; National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81900508; and Suzhou Basic Research General Project, No. SSD2024042.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Jian-Gao Fan, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 1665 Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200092, China. fattyliver2004@126.com
Received: December 17, 2025 Revised: January 28, 2026 Accepted: March 2, 2026 Published online: August 28, 2026 Processing time: 227 Days and 11.8 Hours
Abstract
We read with interest the study by Abdelhamed et al published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) represents a growing global health burden, with significant epidemiological and clinical variations across regions. This editorial examines the prevention and management of MASLD by drawing insights from Egypt, a country with one of the highest MASLD prevalence worldwide, and comparing its context with that of China. Both nations face rising rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, which are central drivers of MASLD, yet differences exist in viral hepatitis co-exposure, gender distribution, genetic predispositions, and healthcare resource availability. The Egyptian experience underscores the challenges of managing MASLD in resource-limited settings, while Chinese advances in noninvasive diagnostics and newer pharmacotherapies offer complementary perspectives. The article highlights the importance of adapting prevention strategies, enhancing early detection, implementing lifestyle interventions, and integrating MASLD into national noncommunicable disease frameworks. By synthesizing lessons from both countries, this discussion aims to inform more effective, context-sensitive approaches to MASLD control in Asia and globally.
Core Tip: This article provides a comparative analysis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease between Egypt, a high-prevalence country with resource constraints, and China, which exhibits advanced diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities with similar epidemic trend. It highlights key divergences in epidemiology, viral hepatitis interactions, and gender distribution, while identifying shared metabolic drivers and nutrition transition. The synthesis underscores the necessity for integrated, context-sensitive public health strategies that combine early detection, lifestyle intervention, and multidisciplinary care to address this global silent epidemic effectively.
