Fact CheckerSign in

NCT05180760Active, not recruiting

Smartphone App for Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Effectiveness of a Smartphone App in Promoting Weight Loss in Patients With Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: a Pilot Multi-centre Randomized Controlled Trial

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 1 May 2026

Brief summary (registry, in English)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a disease spectrum that encompasses excessive liver deposition of fat (NAFL), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and NASH cirrhosis. NAFLD is regarded as the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and is currently the most common etiology for chronic liver disease worldwide, affecting 25% of the adult population globally. It is estimated that cirrhosis and liver-related death occur in 20% and 12%, respectively, over a 10-year period in patients with NAFLD. The incidence of decompensated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) due to NAFLD are increasing with time. In United States, the number of patient listing for liver transplantation (LT) due to NAFLD has surpassed that of from chronic viral hepatitis and is currently the second leading cause for LT waitlist overall. Locally, the prevalence of NAFLD is estimated to be 42% according to a health census in healthy blood donors in Hong Kong, and up to 13.5% healthy subjects will develop new onset NAFLD in 3-5 years of follow-up. Clearly, NAFLD is a chronic liver disease with alarmingly high prevalence that warrants attention. Despite the high prevalence and potential to develop serious liver-related morbidity, there are currently no approved drugs for patients with NAFLD. To achieve resolution of steatohepatitis and improvement of liver fibrosis, weight loss appears to be the only effective means. This study is aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-developed smartphone app for achieving weight loss in Chinese adults with non-alcoholic fatty-liver disease (NAFLD) at 12 months. Endorsed by the WHO, mobile technology is being increasingly used to promote health. There is a lack of research on the use of mobile technology for promoting weight loss in Chinese NAFLD patients.

Status (registry)
Active, not recruiting
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
260 (actual)
First submitted
1 Dec 2021
Start date
1 Jul 2023
Primary completion date
31 Dec 2025
Lead sponsor
The University of Hong Kong
NCT number
NCT05180760

What you commit to

  • Study type: Interventional
  • Participants enrolled: 260
  • From 1 Jul 2023 to the primary completion date, 31 Dec 2025
  • 1 site in 1 country
  • Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them

Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.

Who cannot take part

Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.

Other illness

  • history of HCC or LT

Lab values

  • newly initiated on sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists or thiazolidinediones or had recent dose adjustments (within 3 months)

Other

  • patients with cirrhosis
  • patients who are pregnant
  • patients on special diet or with special dietary requirement (e.g. vegan, gluten free)
  • patients with heavy alcohol use (≥20 grams/ day for women or ≥30 grams/ day for men)

Who the study is looking for

  • known NAFLD
  • able to read and understand Chinese
  • owns a compatible smartphone
  • without major cognitive impairment.

Age in the registry: 18 years to 70 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov

Sites (1)

Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.

SiteCityCountrySite status
The University of Hong Kong
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
Hong KongChinaUnknown status

This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.