Liver disease toolkit
Completion requirements
The aims of the BLT/RCGP Liver Priority Project are to raise awareness of liver disease as an increasingly important cause of morbidity and mortality in the UK and to provide resources to support its optimal management in primary care.
Recommendations for commissioning bodies to improve the early detection of chronic liver disease in UK primary care
1) The rationale for change, the burden of chronic liver disease and finding out your local population needs
These recommendations will improve early detection and better initial management of chronic liver disease in primary care. This will lead to:
- More appropriate referrals to secondary/tertiary care
- Fewer admissions with decompensated liver cirrhosis
- Less repeat blood testing without decision making
- Long term improvement in morbidity and mortality for people with chronic liver disease
- Significant cost savings for the NHS
Liver disease mortality rates have increased 400% since 1970, and in people younger than 65 years have risen by almost five-times. Liver disease constitutes the third commonest cause of working age death in the UK. The three main types of liver disease accounting for 90% of all cases are alcohol related, NAFLD and viral hepatitis. The first two are treatable with behaviour modification and there is now a very effective cure for hepatitis C. However, in order for these treatments to be effective we must detect disease early.
Three quarters of patients currently present too late. With education of GPs and access to easier testing we can change this trend.