Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multisystem disorder with a wide range of extrahepatic manifestations. Its manifestations include cardiovascular diseases, extrahepatic malignancies, metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney failure, cerebrovascular diseases, cognitive impairment, polycystic ovary syndrome and hypothyroidism. The most common causes of death in NAFLD patients are cardiovascular diseases, extrahepatic malignancies, and liver diseases. Factors associated with mortality include age, impaired glucose tolerance, and liver cirrhosis. Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a new definition for NAFLD. It is primarily characterized by hepatic fat accumulation in the presence of obesity, diabetes or metabolic dysregulation. Although the two diagnostic criteria overlap, the affected populations are not exactly the same. It is of great significance for timely screening and multidisciplinary management of the disease spectrum by investigating the association between NAFLD/MAFLD and extrahepatic diseases, and further elucidating the evolution of diagnosis and treatment of extrahepatic conditions from NAFLD to MAFLD.