Chronic Liver Disease

Introduction

The causes of chronic liver disease covers a wide range of congenital or acquired abnormalities although alcohol abuse remains the predominant cause of chronic liver disease in the Western world.

Facts and Figure

The directly standardised mortality rate (in this case per 100,000 population) is calculated to allow comparison between geographies of different population sizes and with different gender and age make ups. As displayed in Figure 1, Blackpool's directly standardised rate (DSR) of mortality from chronic liver disease is the highest in the country when compared to other Local Authorities and is almost three times that of England and Wales.

Figure 1 - Mortality from Chronic Liver Disease Including Cirrhosis 2017-19 - Lower Tier Local Authority

Figure 2 shows the trend in mortality from chronic liver disease, comparing Blackpool to the North West and England and Wales. Nationally and in the North West there has been an increase in mortality from chronic liver disease, but this increase has been particularly marked in Blackpool, especially amongst males. The rate in Blackpool has, however, been declining since 2017 though is still well above the national average. 

Figure 2 - Trend in Chronic Liver Disease Including Cirrhosis Mortality 1995-2019

Risk Factors

There are a variety of risk factors and diseases that cause chronic liver disease. The three commonest risk factors for chronic liver disease are excessive alcohol consumption; blood borne viruses, in particular Hepatitis B and C, and obesity. Risk factors can have a multiplicative effect: an individual with more than one risk factor (e.g. Hepatitis C/obesity as well as excess alcohol consumption) can further increase their risk of chronic liver disease.¹

[1] http://www.scotpho.org.uk/health-wellbeing-and-disease/chronic-liver-disease/risk-factors