Table 4.

Main Characteristics of the Most Prevalent Chronic Liver Diseases in the Hispanic Population in the United States

NAFLD	The prevalence is almost 2-fold higher in the Hispanic than in the African American population and 1.4 times higher than in the NHW population.
	Genetic polymorphisms of a specific allele (PNPLA3) are associated with ethnic variations in hepatic fat content.
	Hispanic individuals with NAFLD have more advanced fibrosis than other ethnic groups; age and an AST/ALT ratio ≥1 are independent predictors of advanced fibrosis in this population.
	There is a need for culturally adapted interventions to address risk factors associated with NAFLD.
Alcoholic cirrhosis	Hispanic individuals have the highest prevalence of alcoholic liver disease.
	Elevations of biological markers of hepatocellular injury (AST, ALT, and GGTP) are more pronounced and more common in alcohol drinkers of Hispanic background.
	Ethnic-matching patients and providers may result in greater effectiveness of brief interventions by the healthcare provider.
Hepatitis C	Injection drug use is the most common risk factor in Hispanic individuals.
	Hispanic individuals exhibit faster progression to fibrosis.
	SVR is significantly lower in Hispanic compared with non-Hispanic individuals after treatment with interferon alfa- 2a and ribavirin for HCV genotypes 1, 2, and 3.
Chronic hepatitis B	Genotypes A and B predominate in Hispanic individuals.
	Need for data comparing therapeutic response among ethnic groups.
Hepatocellular carcinoma	The incidence of HCC in Hispanic individuals is 2.7 times higher than in NHW individuals.
	Mortality from HCC is 9% higher than in NHW individuals.

ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; GGTP, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase.