Liver disease deaths increase by 12% in just three years

Government mortality statistics for the UK show that deaths from liver disease continue to rise, increasing by 12% in the last three years, totalling 46,244 lives lost. In 2008, liver disease killed 16,087 people – a 4.5% increase from 2007. If these rates continue, deaths from liver disease are predicted to double in 20 years.

The graph below was produced by the British Liver Trust to illustrate the true extent of liver disease in the UK. It shows that liver disease, when compared to the other fi ve big causes of death, is the only one showing a steady increase year-on-year.

Alison Rogers, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust, said:

“Once again we are seeing the tide of liver disease rising further and putting a huge strain on the NHS. The sad fact is that 95% of all liver disease is entirely preventable.

” A comparison to fi gures published four years ago shows that there has been a 26% increase in people under the age of 25 dying from alcoholic liver disease in England and Wales. In 2006, 161 young people died compared to 2004 when 122 died.

“This is an alarming trend, particularly when you consider that alcoholic liver disease typically takes up to ten years to develop. This means that young people are putting their liver health at increased risk from a very young age.