The National Plan for Liver Services UK 2009

A Time to Act: Improving Liver Health and Outcomes in Liver Disease

Key facts

• Liver disease is the 5th largest cause of death in the U.K. The average age of death from liver disease is 59 years, compared to 82-84 years for heart & lung disease or stroke.
• Liver disease morbidity and mortality are largely preventable.
• The UK is one of few developed nations with an upward trend in mortality.
• Patients are presenting and dying with liver disease at an earlier age, with a 5-fold increase in the development of cirrhosis in 35-55 year olds over the last 10 years
• The majority of treatable liver disease is undiagnosed and untreated.  Early diagnosis and treatment requires engagement of primary care.
• Effective prevention strategies or treatments are available for the three main causes of liver disease – alcohol, viral hepatitis and obesity. These decrease the risk of developing cirrhosis, liver cancer and their associated mortality.
• The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B in the UK is increasing dramatically as a result of migration. The UK is in a minority by not providing universal vaccination against hepatitis B. Identification of patients with hepatitis B within high prevalence groups is suboptimal.
• With appropriate action, the associated disease burden for both hepatitis B and hepatitis C could be largely eliminated by 2030 and 2040 respectively.
• Secondary care of liver disease is currently poorly organized and services could be radically improved at relatively little cost.
  
• Liver disease represents one of the few diseases where the inequalities gap is increasing.