Liver disease is one of the UK's fastest-growing health concerns, yet a new survey suggests it remains largely overlooked by the public.
New research commissioned by Liver UK, the charity formed through the merger of the British Liver Trust and Children's Liver Disease Foundation, has found that only 9% of people actively think about or monitor their liver health. That is despite liver disease being one of the leading causes of premature death among working-age adults.
When 2,000 UK adults were asked to name the three health conditions they worry about most, cancer, heart disease, stroke and mental health dominated the list. Liver disease barely registered, even though it claimed over 12,300 lives across the UK in 2023. According to the latest Office for National Statistics figures, it is now the second biggest killer of people under 65 in England and Wales.
Unlike many serious illnesses that become more common with age, liver disease frequently affects people during their working years. Premature deaths from liver disease in England have risen by 42% since 2001, making it one of the few major diseases where mortality continues to increase rather than decline.
The survey also uncovered several worrying misconceptions about liver disease. One in three people incorrectly believe it is caused only by alcohol, while one in five think babies and children cannot develop liver disease. More than half of those questioned were unaware that liver disease can develop without causing any symptoms during its early stages.
That lack of awareness is particularly concerning because liver disease often progresses silently. Many people feel perfectly well until significant, and sometimes irreversible, damage has already occurred. Experts estimate that around three-quarters of patients receive their diagnosis only when opportunities for effective treatment have become much more limited.
Pamela Healy, Chief Executive of Liver UK, said the survey highlights not only a lack of understanding, but also a lack of recognition that liver disease is a major public health issue.
She told That's Health that too many families continue to experience avoidable heartbreak because the condition is detected far too late, and called on both the Government and the NHS to place greater emphasis on prevention, earlier diagnosis and improved access to care.
One family knows that heartbreak all too well.
Sara Harding lost her father, Stephen, at the age of 62, only months after he was diagnosed with advanced liver disease. Although he had previously been told he had a fatty liver, the family never realised how serious the condition could become.
Sara hopes that by sharing her father's story, more people will understand that liver disease can progress quietly for years and that knowing your personal risk factors is just as important as recognising symptoms.
For many people, simple lifestyle changes, routine health checks and earlier investigation of risk factors could make a life-changing difference. Liver disease is not always preventable, but earlier diagnosis gives the best chance of slowing or even reversing damage before it becomes irreversible.
Greater awareness today could help save lives tomorrow.
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