ALMR disputes liver disease data

According to a new report, liver-related diseases increased by a quarter between 2001 and 2009. ‘Deaths from liver disease: Implications for end of life care in England’, claimed that alcohol-related liver disease accounts for 37% of all liver disease deaths.

However, the ALMR compared the figures to statistics from the Department of Health (DoH) to dispute the data.The report said that between 2001 and 2009 all deaths from liver disease increased from 9,231 to 11,575. But the DoH said that there were 4,462 deaths from alcoholic liver disease in 2001 and 5,589 deaths in 2009.

The ALMR explained that although the numbers have gone up, the proportion of liver deaths directly attributable to alcohol has remained static, at 48%.

ALMR chief executive Nick Bish said: “Obviously alcohol is a factor and any death from misuse is one death too many, but we have to put these figures in context. The majority of deaths from liver disease are not directly attributable to alcohol – indeed the proportion which are alcohol related has actually remained the same. We are in danger of failing to tackle this significant health problem by focusing on alcohol to the exclusion of all other lifestyle risk factors.

“All other indicators also show that alcohol sales and consumption are also falling and have been for the past decade. Yes, we need to do more to stop the plethora of pocket money promotions put out by the supermarkets which continue to drive consumption. Focusing exclusive on alcohol as the root of all evil is misleading and clouds political discussions on health policy.”