Artificial Intelligence Addresses Unmet Medical Need in Treating Fatty Liver Disease
Fatima of the Kingdom
artificial intelligence (AI) is presented as a tool that solves an unmet need for patients with fatty liver disease. Currently, treatment for these patients is based almost exclusively on diet and lifestyle changes, since there is no pharmacological treatment for this disease. The LiverAI app, developed by Spanish Association for the Study of the Liver (AEEH) helps the hepatologist to offer diets tailored to the individual needs of each patient, thereby improving adherence and treatment effectiveness.
The prevalence of fatty liver disease has increased alarmingly in recent years. affects 25% of the world’s population. This condition, closely linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome, can develop into more serious diseases such as fibrosis, cirrhosis and even liver cancer.
Lack of adhesion
Dr. Rocio Allera specialist in the digestive system at the Hospital Clínic de Valladolid and secretary of the AEEH, points out that patients with fatty liver disease face a number of problems, among which the lack of adherence to treatment stands out.One of the biggest problems is diet compliance. In a study conducted by Eduardo Vila in Cuba, it was noted that only 10% of patients were following the diet after a year. This is due to the lack of control and the use of standard diets that do not take into account the individual characteristics of patients.“,” says Aller.
«With Liverai, we can personalize the diet based on factors such as the degree of fibrosis, physical activity, age, gender, socioeconomic level, cultural preferences and food intolerances of the patient,” explains Dr. Allaire.
The use of AI through applications like LiverAI allows us to overcome these barriers by allowing pathologists to create diets that are truly tailored to each patient, greatly increasing the chances of treatment success.”With LiverAI, we can personalize the diet based on factors such as the degree of fibrosis, physical activity, age, gender, socioeconomic level, cultural preferences and food intolerances of the patient.” explains Aller.
In this sense Dr. Mar Noguerol, Family physician and coordinator of the SemFYC working group on digestive pathology, also emphasizes the importance of an individual approach, since fatty liver disease is a systemic and multifactorial pathology. “We cannot effectively treat this disease without considering all aspects of the patient’s condition. Currently, there are no specific strategies to improve adherence to treatment. However, it is essential to increase information and public awareness of this disease.”
“It is very important to raise awareness and public awareness about fatty liver disease,” emphasizes Dr. Noguerol.
Good experience
The experience of patients who were prescribed a diet using the association’s app supports the idea that AI makes the task of hepatologists easier by allowing them to dynamically and accurately adjust the diet to the specific needs of the patient. This experience Maria LouiseA 40-year-old patient with fatty liver who Dr. Manuel Romero prescribed a personalized diet using this app.
«This diet allows me to eat a variety of foods without restrictions, but in smaller proportions. Thanks to this, I have noticed a significant improvement in my health, since the ability to eat everything makes it easier to stick to the diet. The problem with obese people (at least in my case) is that if you stick to a very restrictive diet, you eventually get tired and quit.– the patient explains.
“People who are obese have a problem, at least in my case, where if you follow a very restrictive diet, you eventually get tired and quit smoking,” the patient explains.
Moreover, he insists that, as per Dr. Romero’s recommendations, you should try to incorporate exercise into your daily routine as something everyday. “Physical activity was supposed to help me lose weight, and ultimately it was losing that weight that motivated me. Changing your lifestyle is hard, but it takes effort“.
LiverAI not only personalizes your diet, but also offers The shopping list is adapted and allows for changes according to the patient’s preferences. “This saves consultation time and increases patient compliance with treatment.. In addition, we are working on integrating microbiota and genetic data, which will further improve the precision of diets.— says Aller.
Multidisciplinary approach
Cooperation between doctorsnutritionists and other health professionals is essential to the success of this interdisciplinary approach. “It is very important to have a team that includes psychologists And nutritionists closely monitor patients and ensure that they adhere to their diet. The hepatologist should be the leader, but all team members are critical to the comprehensive management of the disease.— insists Aller.
Dr. Noguerol agrees to some extent, emphasizing the role played by Family and community nurse specialists. «Right now in primary care We do not have dieticians. Nutrition issues were addressed within the framework of family and community medicine, as well as in consultations with nurses. I believe that the role of the nurse is necessary to improve adherence to treatment.– explains the family doctor.
All this shows that artificial intelligence marks the “before” and “after” in the treatment of fatty liver disease, as such applications represent a powerful tool for personalizing diet and improving patient compliance, which is necessary to reverse the disease in its early stages.