Page 15 - Time to DeLiver: Getting a Grip on HE report 2015
P. 15
SECTION 3
The true burden of Hepatic Encephalopathy: A hidden
complication of Advanced Chronic Liver Disease
• Symptomatic hepatic encephalopathy An important gap in our understanding of
hepatic encephalopathy and a barrier to fully
is a common complication of advanced appreciating the impact it has on patients and
chronic liver disease. Approximately 10% healthcare systems, is the relative lack of
of patients have hepatic encephalopathy European data reporting on the epidemiology
upon diagnosis with advanced chronic of hepatic encephalopathy or resulting
liver disease.19,20 hospital admissions. As a result, hepatic
encephalopathy can be considered a hidden
• In addition, up to 40% of patients are complication of advanced chronic liver disease.
thought to develop hepatic encephalopathy A UK-based hepatic encephalopathy patient
during their disease course.2 survey commissioned in 2014 by the British
Liver Trust and Liver4Life (supported by
• European data estimate that Norgine), found that half of the respondents
had been hospitalised, or seen their loved one
approximately 0.1% of the European hospitalised due to a hepatic encephalopathy
population have advanced chronic liver episode. A third of patients had been
disease,5 therefore it can be suggested hospitalised on more than one occasion, some
that up to 200,000 patients will suffer with more than six times in one year. On average,
hepatic encephalopathy at some point. 70% of patients spent up to 10 days in hospital,
although some (12%) patients were in hospital
One in three for a month or more.21,22
patients are
hospitalised
with hepatic
encephalopathy
on more than
one occasion,
some even more
than six times
in one year21
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