More people dying from liver disease than ever before,

with the disease being more common in the North and killing more men than women - Over one third of deaths alcohol-related

The number of people dying from liver disease in England is still rising, according to the first ever national report on the statistics published by the National End of Life Care Intelligence Network.

Deaths from liver disease: Implications for end of life care in England describes how there has been a 25% increase in liver disease deaths between 2001 (9,231 people) and 2009 (11,575 people). This is in contrast to other major causes of death, which have been declining.

Although numbers of deaths due to cancer, vascular or respiratory disease are still much greater, liver disease disproportionately kills people at a much younger age - a striking 90% of people who die from liver disease are under 70 years old. More than 1 in 10 of deaths of people in their 40s are from liver disease. When measured as ‘years of life lost’, liver disease is therefore much more prominent.

The report highlights that 60% of deaths from liver disease occurred amongst men and 40% amongst women. The single most common cause of liver deaths is alcohol-related liver disease, which accounts for well over a third (37%) of all liver disease deaths. However, the prevalence of deaths from alcohol-related liver disease varies greatly between males (41% of liver disease deaths) and females (30% of liver disease deaths). Alcohol-related liver disease is also more common in the most deprived areas (44% of liver disease deaths) than the least deprived areas (28% of liver disease deaths).

The complex needs of many patients who die from liver disease mean that more than two thirds die in hospital, compared to 55% of all deaths from any cause (2009).

Regional variation

Taking into account the diverse populations of each region, for example the South East having the largest population and London having a relatively younger population, the mortality rate due to liver disease varies between the regions. The age standardised mortality rate (2001-09) was highest in:

• North West (24.0 per 100,000, of which 11.4 were from alcohol-related liver disease)

• North East (21.9 per 100,000, of which 10.1 were from alcohol-related liver disease)

• London (20.2 per 100,000, of which 6.5 were from alcoholrelated liver disease)

and lowest in:

• East of England (12.9 per 100,000, of which 4.9 were from alcohol-related liver disease)

• South West (14.3 per 100,000, of which 6.4 were from alcohol-related liver disease)

• South East (14.8 per 100,000, of which 5.8 were from alcohol-related liver disease)

Professor Martin Lombard, National Clinical Director for Liver Disease, urged people to consider the challenging and complex needs of those dying with this preventable disease. Professor Lombard said: “This report makes for stark reading about the needs of people dying with liver disease. Over 70% end up dying in hospital and this report is timely in helping us understand the challenges in managing end of life care for this group of people. The key drivers for increasing numbers of deaths from liver disease are all preventable, such as alcohol, obesity, hepatitis C and hepatitis B. We must focus our efforts and tackle this problem sooner rather than later.”