Chronic liver disease: key points

Deaths

• There were 18.4 chronic liver disease deaths per 100,000 population in Scotland in 2023.
• In general, chronic liver disease death rates decreased from a peak in 2003 (25.4 per 100,000 population) until 2015 (15.0 per 100,000 population). Since then it has increased slightly up to 2023 (18.4 per 100,000 population).
• In 2023, male death rates for chronic liver disease were 1.8 higher than those for females (23.5 compared to 13.3 per 100,000 population). 
• In 2023, chronic liver disease death rates were 4.5 times higher in the most deprived areas (41.5 per 100,000 population) compared to the least deprived areas (9.3 per 100,000 population).

Hospital stays

• In 2023/24, there were 180.4 hospital stays per 100,000 population including a diagnosis of chronic liver disease, a decrease of 4.1% compared to the previous year.
• In 2023/24, male hospital stay rates (225.4 stays per 100,000 population) for chronic liver disease were 1.7 times higher than those reported for females (135.3 stays per 100,000 population).
• In 2023/24, chronic liver disease hospital stay rates were 3.8 times higher than the rates in 1982/83. Over this time period, the increase in the rate of hospital stays with a diagnosis of chronic liver disease was larger for males (4.1 times) than for females (3.3 times).
• In 2023/24, chronic liver disease hospital stay rates were 4.3 times higher in the most deprived areas (371.4 per 100,000 population) compared to the least deprived areas (85.4 per 100,000 population).