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The Startling Economic Burden of NASH in the U.S.Earlier and more-frequent prognostic risk assessment is needed

Dr. Zobair M. Younossi
Professor and Chairman of Medicine
Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Virginia|10.12.21

Why are NASH-associated costs so high?

The estimated annual cost burden of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in the U.S. is $103 billion and is estimated to rise to $1.005 trillion within 10 years.1 NASH is quickly being recognized as a significant burden to patients, providers, and the overall health care system.

In this 5-minute video, Dr. Younossi addresses the economic burden of NASH and how the evolution of noninvasive tests has created the opportunity to improve risk assessment of disease progression, helping to ensure patients get the care they need while reducing healthcare costs.

Younossi Large
Dr. Zobair M. Younossi

About Zobair M. Younossi

Zobair M Younossi is the president of Inova Medicine as well as professor and chairman of the Department of Medicine at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church, Virginia, USA. He is also chair of clinical research, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia. He served as staff hepatologist and senior researcher at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, before establishing the Center for Liver Diseases at Inova Fairfax Hospital, which is now renowned for outcomes-related research in liver disease and clinical health services and translational research in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Over the past 3 decades, Dr. Younossi has pioneered research in NAFLD and been a leader in the field of patient-reported outcomes (PROs), economic assessment, and outcomes research in liver disease. He leads several international efforts related to NAFLD and PROs in liver disease though global collaborations, including as chair of the Global NASH Council and Global Liver and NASH Registries as well as president and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Chronic Liver Foundation. Dr.Younossi specializes in hepatology and gastroenterology, has authored over 600 articles, 3 books, 6 journal supplements, over 25 book chapters, and over 900 abstracts. Dr.Younossi has also served as the co-editor of Liver International, associate editor of the Journal of Hepatology, and on the editorial board of a number of important medical journals. He has represented the American Association of Liver Disease and American Gastroenterological Association at different congressional meetings.



1. Younossi ZM, et al. Global burden of NAFLD and NASH: trends, predictions, risk factors and prevention. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018;15:11-20.


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In the U.S., the ELF Test is indicated as a prognostic marker in conjunction with other laboratory findings and clinical assessments in patients with advanced fibrosis (F3 or F4) due to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to assess the likelihood of progression to cirrhosis and liver-related clinical events.