The number of people being admitted to hospital with a potentially deadly condition have rocketed. New figures show a 22% increase in liver disease hospital admissions in England in one year.
The disease often remains "silent" in its early stages meaning it can be hard to spot. Most forms of the disease have only a handful of symptoms and these usually only show once the liver is damaged and scarred.
Now a charity is calling for action the new figures were released. The British Liver Trust says the data "sounded alarm bells" after it showed almost 15,000 more people being admitted to hospital with the disease in England in a single year.
There were 82,290 admissions in the financial year ending 2022 compared to 67,458 in 2021, reports Birmingham Live. And this is up by almost 47% compared to 10 years ago.
The data also highlights significant variation across the country. People in deprived groups are more likely to develop, be hospitalised by, and die from liver disease than the most affluent.
Vanessa Hebditch, Director of Policy at the British Liver Trust, said "These figures once again demonstrate how action is needed. The British Liver Trust is calling for a prompt and comprehensive review of adult liver services to address the huge variation and inequalities in liver disease treatment outcomes and care. The surge in hospital admissions emphasises the urgent need for immediate action to tackle the growing burden of liver disease on the NHS and society as a whole."
Liver disease often remains silent in its early stages, exhibiting minimal to no symptoms. However it is almost entirely preventable with the major risk factors being alcohol, obesity and hepatitis B and C which account for up to nine out of 10 cases.
But the Trust warned: "Alarmingly, three-quarters of people are diagnosed with cirrhosis, the most severe form of liver disease, when it is often too late for effective intervention or treatment. If diagnosed early, disease progression can be halted and sometimes reversed."
According to the NHS those symptoms which do show, but usually only once the damage is done, include:
- feeling very tired and weak all the time
- loss of appetite – which may lead to weight loss
- loss of sex drive (libido)
- yellow skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
Other symptoms may include itchy skin, or feeling or being sick.
Urgently calling upon the government to prioritise investment in prevention and early diagnosis of liver disease, Vanessa Hebditch added, "Addressing the root causes of liver disease, such as alcohol misuse and obesity, should be at the forefront of the government's agenda. By allocating resources to education, raising awareness, and promoting healthier lifestyles, we can collectively work towards reducing the burden of liver disease and improving the well-being of individuals across the country."
It urged the government to take immediate action by investing in prevention programs, promoting healthier choices, and enhancing early diagnosis strategies are essential steps to curtail the rising tide of liver disease and safeguard the wellbeing of the nation.
For more information and resources please visit the British Liver Trust's website at www.britishlivertrust.org.uk.
