Grant: DRA : Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral Program (CGRS D)

Up to 70% of people living with type 2 diabetes have steatotic liver disease (SLD), formerly known as fatty liver disease, but don't know it. SLD starts with fat build-up in the liver, leading to liver scarring over time, and potentially more serious stages like liver failure, liver cancer, or death. SLD is known as a silent killer because it has no noticeable symptoms, making it incredibly important to screen for liver damage in high-risk populations before it is too late. Since 2016, many medical associations around the world recognize that people with type 2 diabetes are at higher risk and should be screened with a simple test known as the Fibrosis-4 Index. This test can inform doctors which patients should be followed more closely for liver damage. Currently, very little research has been conducted in Canada to support public health and clinical decision-making, as such, we aim to address this by exploring three factors: 1) how SLD progresses in people with type 2 diabetes, 2) what factors might play a role in long-term liver health, and 3) if specialist care is delivered effectively for people that undergo liver damage screening. To conduct this research, we will be working collaboratively with healthcare providers and patient organizations. We will also use advanced statistical approaches to analyze routinely collected health data from everyone living in Ontario, focusing on approximately 783,000 people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes across the last decade. This research is important because current guidelines for doctors rely on a 'one size fits all' approach, which may not equitably and effectively best serve the needs of Canadians with type 2 diabetes. These results will also help to improve the earlier detection of SLD and connecting people to treatments in a timely manner, reducing additional health complications and creating a more efficient healthcare system.