New figures show a staggering 17% increase on the liver transplant register in the past year, with 370 people now currently waiting for the organ. National liver charity, the British Liver Trust, has expressed its concern that, with rising rates of liver disease, there are not enough donors to meet the increasing demand.
Alison Rogers, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust, says: “With only 100 extra liver transplants available in five years and more people being affected by liver disease each year, we are very concerned about the consequences.
“Currently two people a week die waiting for a liver transplant; this figure is set to increase further unless we see the upward mortality trend of liver disease fall. Increasing rates of liver disease are not just driving demand for transplants; they're driving demand for all liver services and pushing up NHS costs.”
Liver disease, when compared to the other five big causes of death, is the only one showing a steady increase year-on-year. In 2008, liver disease killed 16,087 people – a 4.5% increase from 2007. If these rates continue, deaths from liver disease are predicted to double in 20 years.
Alcoholic cirrhosis, already the leading cause of liver disease, has increased by a fifth in the last five years and resulted in 130 transplants last year alone. However there has also been at least a 10% rise in liver transplants since 2006 due to causes such as hepatitis C, liver cancer, hepatic artery thrombosis and polycystic disease.
Of particular concern is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD or fatty liver) – a liver condition closely related to obesity. It is set to become one of the leading causes of liver transplantation and has increased by 360% since 2008. These rates are expected to continue in line with rising rates of obesity throughout the country.
The Trust is currently feeding into the National Liver Strategy for Liver Disease and hopes to see long-term commitment to addressing the burden of liver disease from the Government. The majority of liver disease is preventable, yet 300 people each week die from the disease. There is certainly not a one-hit wonder approach to liver disease as it is a demographically diverse killer.
“Aside from improving treatment services and diagnosis rates for liver disease, there are a packet of measures that could help; excess alcohol consumption could be curbed through the introduction of a minimum price per unit; fatty liver needs better awareness and due recognition; people need to be tested for viral hepatitis and hepatitis B could be relatively easily addressed with a universal vaccination,” said Rogers.
In supporting National Transplant Week (4th - 10th July 2010) the British Liver Trust is promoting NHS Blood and Transplant's (NHSBT) campaign theme, 'Heart to Heart'. With three people dying every day whilst waiting for organs, NHSBT is calling on people to discuss the issues around organ donation and sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register. For more information please visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk/transplantweek
The Trust is also promoting its resources on liver transplantation and has profiled a selection of inspirational real life liver transplantation stories featured on its website.
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For further information please contact: Sarah Matthews
Phone: 01425 481 320
Out of hours: 07968 366 526
Email: sarah.matthews@britishlivertrust.org.uk
Web: http://www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/
British Liver Trust, 2 Southampton Road, Ringwood, BH24 1HY
Editor’s Note:
1. NHS Blood and Transplant figures show that the number of people on the liver transplant register has increased by 17%. 374 people were registered at the end of May 2010, compared to 319 people listed at the same time in May 2009.
2. Alcohol-related liver transplants have increased by 20.4% since 2006 where there were 108 transplants compared to 130 reported in 2009/10.
3. In 2008, there were only five recorded liver transplants where fatty liver disease was the specified cause. However in 2009/10 this rose to 23.
4. Government mortality statistics for the UK indicate that deaths from liver disease continue to rise, increasing by 12% in the last three years, totalling 46,244 lives lost. In 2008, liver disease killed 16,087 people – a 4.5% increase from 2007. If these rates continue, deaths from liver disease are predicted to double in 20 years.
5. This graph overleaf, produced by the British Liver Trust, illustrates the true extent of liver disease in the UK. Liver disease, when compared to the other five big causes of death, is the only one showing a steady increase year-on-year:
6. The British Liver Trust is Britain’s only national liver disease charity for adults. We work to improve the lives of people suffering from liver disease with key roles in education, support and research. We rely on voluntary contributions from individuals and funding from companies and charitable trusts.
7. The Trust is working urgently to encourage prevention and investment in treatment and care for people with liver disease. Much of the increasing incidence of liver disease stems from lifestyle trends – relating to alcohol, obesity and viral hepatitis. However, liver disease has many other causes including genetics, abnormalities in the immune system and even the medicines we take. The Trust is working to raise awareness about the liver and combat the stigma associated with liver disease.
8. The Trust provides a comprehensive website www.britishlivertrust.org.uk, free medical helpline – 0800 652 7330, and distributes a wide range of information leaflets to individuals and healthcare professionals. In addition, the Trust is a contact point for support groups nationwide, as well as co-ordinating funding and providing support for research.
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