Dr. Jeff McIntyre from the Global Liver Institute (GLI) discussed the importance of the medical community understanding nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and how to reduce its global impact. Mr. McIntyre will participate in his AMCP Nexus 2023 session titled “Navigating NASH: A Discussion on Clinical Background, Patient Advocacy, and Managed Care Considerations” to educate the managed care pharmacy audience about this disease. I contributed to that.
At GLI, Mr. McIntyre serves as Vice President of Liver Health Programs. In this role, she oversees GLI's portfolio of liver health programs, including NASH and liver cancer. To address global screening and treatment disparities, McIntyre works with program directors to identify opportunities for patient engagement across all channels, including drug development, regulatory input, and educational opportunities. .
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How important is it to close the knowledge gap about NASH within the medical community, especially among managed care professionals, to effectively address this health problem?
That's very important. I feel that the amount of knowledge about the liver is not proportional to the number of liver diseases and the increase in liver cancer in Japan. If you ask a general audience, most people won't even be able to point out where their liver is located in the body, let alone what they need to know about how to maintain a healthy liver. I can't say much more about what you need to know to do it. We also know that it can prevent liver disease and treat undiagnosed diseases.
It is very important that everyone across the healthcare system is aware of this. Understanding that obesity is one of the main correlates, especially with fatty liver disease, and being able to have honest conversations with patients who may be obese, not about obesity, but actually about obesity. I think it's also important. liver disease itself. The only way to remove the stigma around liver disease is to actually talk about treatments and conditions without bringing in other aspects that may or may not be relevant.
What measures are essential to reduce the impact of the NASH pandemic?
The first step is screening. To get a better idea of how many people have these undiagnosed fatty liver diseases, we need non-invasive methods of screening and testing. If someone already has fatty liver disease, which is not NASH but just fatty liver disease, there are lifestyle modifications that the person can make that can alleviate or reverse fatty liver disease or actually reverse fatty liver disease. can be completely removed. Liver disease through lifestyle modifications – If you are aware of liver disease. This is done through early screening and testing, preferably also through non-diagnostic means.
It is then continued and updated as patients become aware of their risk for fatty liver disease or NASH. They continue to be screened, continue to make healthy lifestyle choices such as physical activity and nutrition, and are supported by health care providers, including pharmacists, to help them make those decisions wisely.
