Research advances in extrahepatic diseases associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major cause of chronic liver diseases worldwide and covers a series of pathological manifestations from hepatic steatosis to inflammation, fibrosis, and even liver cirrhosis. NAFLD is associated with a wide range of extrahepatic diseases, including metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, endocrine diseases, obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome, psoriasis, and skeleton-muscle diseases. The major causes of death in patients with NAFLD include cardiovascular disease, malignancies, and liver-related complications, suggesting that extrahepatic diseases associated with NAFLD should be taken seriously by clinicians. This article reviews the research advances in extrahepatic diseases associated with NAFLD, so as to provide ideas for clinical assessment and treatment.