An international research group led by the Centenary Institute has developed a new genetic risk prediction tool to identify heavy drinkers most at risk of developing alcohol-associated cirrhosis, a severe form of liver disease, informs the aforesaid institute.

Reported in the journal Hepatology Communications, the tool offers new hope for the early detection and prevention of alcohol-associated cirrhosis, a condition responsible for over 300,000 global deaths annually.

The newly developed tool, known as a polygenic risk score (PRS), helps pinpoint individuals most likely to suffer from alcohol-associated cirrhosis based on their genetic makeup.

In developing the PRS, the researchers compared the genetic profiles of thousands of patients with alcohol-associated cirrhosis to those of heavy drinkers without liver damage. Analyzing millions of genetic variations, a risk score was derived from 20 specific genetic markers.

“Our polygenic risk score is a powerful new approach to predicting alcohol-associated cirrhosis through an individual’s genes. It allows us to identify individuals at high risk, enabling earlier intervention and preventive measures to help stop liver disease before it progresses,” said Clinical Professor Seth.

The study also revealed that the PRS significantly improves the prediction of alcohol-associated cirrhosis when combined with other traditional (non-genetic) risk factors such as drinking habits, age, body mass index (BMI) and diabetes status. Further, the tool has been found to be useful in predicting the risk of other liver diseases related to metabolic (non-alcoholic) factors.