Harmful levels of drinking, obesity and undiagnosed infections mean England is one of the few countries in Europe seeing a rise in deaths from liver disease, the chief medical officer said in a report out Wednesday.
Between 2000 and 2009, deaths from chronic liver disease and cirrhosis in the under-65s increased by about 20%, Professor Dame Sally Davies said in her annual study.
In contrast, the rates fell by the same amount in most EU countries, the data-rich report entitled ‘On the state of the public?s health’ found.
Davies said that the public needed to have a better awareness about liver health as the three major causes of liver disease — obesity, undiagnosed hepatitis infections and harmful alcohol use — are all preventable.
“Liver disease does not manifest with obvious symptoms or signs until a relatively late stage,” the report warned, calling for local health authorities to prioritise preventing, identifying and treating liver disease and recommending “action on obesity and alcohol misuse.”
The study was the first volume of a two-part annual report took a “broad brush” view of the nation’s health, Davies said, looking at diseases ranging from diabetes to cancers.
Davies said: “I have done a comprehensive analysis of the state of the country’s health, and found some areas where we are doing really well and others where there is still a lot of improvement needed.
“I was struck by the data on liver disease particularly. This is the only major cause of preventable death that is on the increase in England that is generally falling in other comparable European nations. We must act to change this.”
Sir Richard Thompson, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said: “We echo the CMO’s concerns, which could not come at a better time as we await the government’s decision on the most appropriate level for a minimum price for alcohol.
“These figures underline the urgent need for a 50p minimum unit price for alcohol, which would hit younger drinkers and heavy drinkers, while not greatly affecting moderate drinkers.”
Dr Peter Carter, chief executive and general secretary at the Royal College of Nursing, added: “Many of Professor Davies’ concerns echo our own and we hope this will lead to firm action and investment to tackle some of the biggest threats to public health in England, such as alcohol abuse, diabetes and obesity.
“It is shocking that the death rate from liver disease is increasing in England at a time when it is falling across Europe.
“Alcohol abuse is one of the greatest threats to public health in this country and it can only be tackled by robust regulation of the industry, along with a minimum unit price to prevent binge drinking.”
The report also warned diabetes care was an area that needed improvement: “Only 50.1% of registered diabetics are receiving all nine NICE recommended diabetes care processes,” it said.
Liver disease deaths increasing in UK: report
