ONE in 10 Brits may have liver damage, a charity warns.
Obesity and heavy drinking are believed to be fuelling an increase in deaths from liver diseases and cancers.
The British Liver Trust last year scanned 2,000 members of the public on 20 high streets across the UK and found a tenth had signs of liver damage, such as scarring or stiffness.
Pamela Healy, chief of the charity, said: “These figures are shocking because our roadshow was not specifically targeting people at risk.
“It offers a free scan to anyone who happens to be in town.
“Therefore liver disease is likely to affect far more people than previously thought.”
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She said GPs need to test people more often as many do not know they are damaging their health.
Liver disease often develops with no symptoms until the organ is permanently damaged.
Signs something is wrong can include:
- Tiredness and weakness
- Itchy skin
- Loss of sex drive
- Feeling or being sick
- Reduced appetite
- Weight loss
- Yellow eyes and/or skin, known as jaundice
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The risk is higher for people who are obese, drink a lot of alcohol, smoke, or have been diagnosed with hepatitis.
More than 80,000 hospital admissions in England were linked to liver disease in 2021, and 10,501 people younger than 75 died from it.
Deaths have increased from around 6,000 in 2001.
Liver cancers are also rising, with deaths projected to increase from 5,800 in 2019 to 9,500 by 2040.
The Liver Trust says 90 per cent of disease cases can be prevented by staying a healthy weight, drinking less alcohol and treating and preventing hepatitis.
Ms Healy added: “Every GP should be finding and testing people who are at risk – those who are overweight and with type 2 diabetes or people who regularly drink too much alcohol.”
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Sam Blanchard
