Chronic liver disease: hospital stays

Table 1 (58KB) provides information on trends in European age standardised rates (EASRs) for chronic liver disease hospital stays in Scotland, by sex, for financial years 1982/83 to 2023/24. Chart 1 shows:

• 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.

• There was an upward trend in the rate of general acute hospital admissions (stays) which included a diagnosis of chronic liver disease from 1986/87 to 2006/07 (181.4 per 100,000 population), after which rates remained fairly stable until 2012/13. Rates then reached a new peak in 2016/17 (207.7 per 100,000 population) and have subsequently decreased up to 2023/24.
• 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).

Table 2 (58 KB) provides information on trends in EASRs for chronic liver disease hospital stays in Scotland, by age group, for financial years 1982/83 to 2023/24. In summary, Chart 2 shows:

• In 2023/24, hospital stay rates for chronic liver disease were highest for people aged 65 years and over (387.1 per 100,000 population).
• Between 1982/83 and 2023/24, hospital stay rates for chronic liver disease have increased across all age groups. The largest increases in rate was in the 65 years and over (5.3 times) age group.
• Prior to 2021/22 hospital admission rates were highest for patients in the 55-64 years age-group. Since 2021/22 hospital admission rates have been highest for patients aged  65 years and over.

Table 3 (58 KB) provides information on trends in EASRs for chronic liver disease hospital stays in Scotland, by condition, for financial years 1982/83 to 2023/24. In summary, Chart 3 shows:

• The main cause of chronic liver disease hospital stays is alcoholic liver disease. In 1982/83 a diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease was included in 60.2% of chronic liver disease hospital stays. This peaked in 2007/08 at 78.8% and there has been a general decrease since then.

• Stays with a diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease increased more than five-fold between 1982/83 and 2007/08 (26.2 compared with 140.7 per 100,000 population). Rates then remained broadly stable until 2017/18. Rates have decreased since 2017/18 to 109.9 per 100,000 population in 2023/24.
• Rates for other chronic liver disease (non-alcoholic) have increased most years, from 21.6 per 100,000 population in 1982/83 to 70.5 per 100,000 population in 2023/24.

Table 4 (58KB) provides information on trends in EASRs for chronic liver disease hospital stays in Scotland, by deprivation deciles (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation), for financial years 1996/97 to 2023/24. In summary, Chart 4 shows:

• 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).
• The rate of hospital stays for chronic liver disease has increased across all deprivation deciles between 1996/97 and 2023/24.

Table 5 (58KB) provides information on trends in EASRs for chronic liver disease hospital stays in Scotland, by NHS Board, for financial years 1982/83 to 2023/24. In summary:

• There has been an increase in chronic liver disease hospital stay rates in all mainland NHS Boards between 1982/83 and 2023/24.
• Hospital stay rates for chronic liver disease in 2023/24 among mainland boards were highest in NHS Fife (234.6) and for islands boards were highest in NHS Western Isles (335.5 stays per 100,000 population).
• The boards with the lowest hospital stay rates for chronic liver disease were NHS Shetland (70.1) and NHS Borders (88.4 per 100,000 population).