Liver Health Fast Facts 2022
Posted 01 July, 2022
Similar Resources
Liver Health Fast Facts 2022
Our Liver Health Fast Facts flyer gives a quick overview of essential liver health information in Queensland.
Liver Health in Queensland
- 1 in 4 Queenslanders have liver disease with many unaware and without symptoms.
- Untreated liver disease can lead to permanent liver damage such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.
- 70% of liver disease is preventable.
- Looking after your liver leads to more energy and living longer with a better quality of life.
Risk Factors
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Metabolic syndrome
- Alcohol use
- Older age
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
Recognising the risks earlier is an opportunity for prevention!
Symptoms
Most people with liver disease have no symptoms. Symptoms of advanced liver disease can include:
Fatigue
Abdominal pain
Swelling of the arms or legs
Bruising easily
Nausea or vomiting
Urine or stool changes
Jaundice (yellow skin & eyes)
Common types of liver disease
Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD)
Caused by a build-up of fat in the liver. It affects:
- Queensland – 1.3 million
- Australia – 6 million
- Worldwide – 1.95 billion
1 in 10 people with MAFLD will develop the more severe Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH).
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Liver Cancer)
- Fastest growing cause of cancer related deaths in Australia
- Affects 2,832 in Australia each year and 905,677 worldwide.
- Costs the Australian economy approximately 4.8 billion dollars each year
Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis B is now the most prevalent blood-borne virus in Australia
- Affects 33,991 in Queensland, 222,559 in Australia, 296 million worldwide
- 70% are not receiving regular care
Hepatitis C
- 1 in 5 people with hepatitis C are undiagnosed
- Affects 43,594 in Queensland, 115,000 in Australia, 58 million worldwide
- Treatment is tablets daily for 8-12 weeks with 95% cure rate
Alcohol-Related Liver Disease (ARLD)
- Responsible for up to 60% of liver-related hospitalisations.
- Early signs of ARLD include fever, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and tenderness.
- ARLD leads to inflammation of the liver and cirrhosis
Preventing Liver Disease
- Eat a balanced diet
- Use alcohol responsibly
- Exercise regularly
- Get a liver health check
Similar Resources
