9 out of 10 liver disease patients diagnosed in A & E will die in a year

The British Liver Trust is calling for urgent action as its reportThe Alarming Rise of Liver Disease in the UK, reveals that patients diagnosed with liver disease as an emergency presentation will be dead in a year. Liver disease is the biggest cause of death for people aged 35-49 years old.


 

PRESS RELEASE ***EMBARGOED UNTIL 00.01 MONDAY 24th JUNE***

9 out of 10 liver disease patients diagnosed in A & E will die within a year

The British Liver Trust is calling for urgent action as figures in their new reportThe Alarming Rise of Liver Disease in the UK, reveal that patients diagnosed with liver disease as an emergency presentation will be dead within a year.

Liver disease is the third leading causes of premature death in England and is the biggest cause of death for people aged between 35 and 49.

Pamela Healy, Chief Executive, British Liver Trust said, “It is completely unacceptable that more isn’t being done to address the liver disease epidemic we are facing in the UK.  This ‘silent killer’ is leading to the premature deaths of thousands of men and women every year.”

Liver problems develop silently with no obvious symptoms in the early stages yet if caught early, the disease can be reversed through lifestyle changes.  90% of liver disease is due to three main risk factors: obesity, alcohol and viral hepatitis.

More than three-quarters of people with cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver only find out when admitted to Accident and Emergency.

“To address this issue, we need the government to support us in improving early diagnosis and tackling prevention,” continues Pamela.  Helping people understand how to reduce their risk of liver damage is vital to change outcomes. Although the liver is remarkably resilient, if left too late damage is often irreversible and lead to liver failure.”

Professor Steve Ryder, medical advisor to the Trust and consultant physician at Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust said, “The increase in deaths from liver disease is in stark contrast to other major killer disease such as heart disease and many other cancers where the numbers of deaths have remained stable or decreased. A lack of awareness together with the stigma that surrounds it means that liver disease is consistently overlooked and underfunded.”

The British Liver Trust is the leading liver health charity in the UK.  Their Love Your Liver campaign aims to reach the one in five people in the UK who may have the early stages of liver disease but are unaware of it. It focuses on three simple steps to Love Your Liver back to health and reduce your risk:

·         Drink within recommended limits and have three consecutive alcohol-free days every week

·         Eat a balanced healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight and take more exercise

·         Know the risk factors for viral hepatitis and get tested if at risk. There are now very effective cures for hepatitis c.

Find out if you are at risk of liver disease in a few minutes by taking the British Liver Trust’s online quiz. Take the British Liver Trust’s screener here: https://www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/screener