Sharp increase in rate of deaths from liver disease

THE Irish are drinking themselves to death in ever greater numbers, according to a European study on liver disease.

Ireland is second only to Britain in the rate of increase of people dying from liver cirrhosis, which is mainly caused by long-term heavy drinking.

The disease killed 5.4 men and 3.9 women per 100,000 people in Ireland between 1957 and 1961. But 40 years later, between 1997 and 2001, the death rate for men had more than doubled to 11.1 and jumped to 6.5 for women.

Figures released yesterday in a report in the Lancet medical journal revealed even higher rises in England, Wales and Scotland.

Prof David Leon, who co-wrote the report, warned Ireland’s figures could get worse if the authorities fail to tackle growing alcohol consumption.

“If this line (of increasing deaths from liver cirrhosis) continues up then there will be trouble. Ireland does not look in a good position in terms of having a steep rate of increase,” he said.

The figures from Britain’s Institute of Alcohol Studies show Irish consumption was the equivalent of 10.8 litres of pure alcohol per person in 2003, up 11% in six years. Britain’s figure was 9.6 litres, up 17%.

Professor Leon added: “Increases in cirrhosis mortality rates have been seen across the beer-drinking and spirit-drinking cultures of northern Europe.”

Declines in liver deaths were reported in wine-drinking countries like France, Portugal, Italy and Spain.

The report revealed a 43% increase in deaths of Irish men from liver cirrhosis between the late 1980s and the late 1990s. The women’s figure was up by 23%.