The Prescribing Patterns and Use of Statins in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Challenge

Statins are indicated for cardiovascular risk reduction in most NAFLD patients, yet provider concerns about hepatotoxicity had led to systematic underprescription despite evidence of safety and benefit. The scope of this prescribing gap—across severity strata and patient subgroups—had not been quantified.

Solution

The TARGET-NASH cohort was analyzed to characterize statin prescribing rates among patients with clear lipid-lowering indications, stratified by NAFLD severity, and identify patient subgroups with the lowest prescribing rates using comparative statistical methods.

Impact

Documenting the magnitude of statin underprescription in NAFLD—especially in decompensated cirrhosis where CV mortality is highest—provides actionable evidence for guideline-aligned prescribing and creates the basis for quality improvement initiatives in NAFLD clinical practice.