Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: An Important Consideration for Primary Care Providers in Hawai'i.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. NAFLD is a broad term for both non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), which describes simple fatty liver without inflammation, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the more severe phenotype with hepatocellular inflammation. The population of Hawai'i is particularly vulnerable to the NAFLD and obesity epidemics due to its large proportions of high-risk ethnic minorities exposed to varying degrees of westernization. Unfortunately, primary care providers (PCPs) often face a lack of awareness on the diagnosis and disease spectrum of NAFLD. Early initiation of treatment for NAFLD is crucial to slow its progression and prevent liver-related morbidity and mortality. This review aims to raise awareness for NAFLD among PCPs in Hawai'i by summarizing the disease's epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. The diagnostic workup of NAFLD in the primary care setting involves exclusion of other liver disease etiologies and staging assessment of fibrosis and steatosis through non-invasive means such as serum biomarkers or elastography. Patients with overt signs and symptoms of cirrhosis or a high likelihood of advanced hepatic fibrosis should be referred to liver disease specialists. The role of PCPs in NAFLD management involves facilitating weight loss through therapeutic lifestyle modifications and treatment of comorbid cardiovascular conditions. Evidence-based pharmacologic therapies for NAFLD are available, such as vitamin E and pioglitazone, with more currently in development.

Improving Advance Care Planning in Outpatients With Decompensated Cirrhosis: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Despite significant morbidity and mortality among patients with decompensated cirrhosis, reported rates of advance directive (AD) completion and goals of care discussions (GCDs) between patients and providers are very low. We aimed to improve these rates by implementing a hepatologist-led advance care planning (ACP) intervention. MEASURES: Rates of AD and GCD completion, as well as self-reported barriers to ACP. INTERVENTION: Provider-led ACP in patients with decompensated cirrhosis without a prior documented AD. OUTCOMES: Sixty-two patients were seen over 115 clinic visits. After the intervention, AD completion rates increased from 8% to 31% and GCD completion rates rose from 0% to 51%. Women (P = 0.048) and nonmarried adults (P = 0.01) had greater changes in AD completion compared to men and married adults, respectively. Needing more time during visits was seen as the major barrier to ACP among providers. CONCLUSIONS/LESSONS LEARNED: Addressing provider and system-specific barriers dramatically improved documentation rates of ACP.