Rising Burden of Liver Disease in India
- Liver diseases have emerged as a major public health concern in India.
- In 2022, liver diseases made digestive system illnesses the 8th leading cause of death, a jump from previous years.
- This marks a notable epidemiological shift, highlighting changing lifestyle and health patterns.
Relevance : GS 2(Health , Governance)
Sex-Based Trends
- Men are disproportionately affected:
- Male deaths from digestive diseases in 2022 were 3.5 times higher than female deaths.
- This male-to-female mortality ratio is the highest since 2016.
- Liver disease’s share among digestive deaths:
- 75% of male digestive deaths were liver-related.
- For women, it was 57.5%, with the figure remaining between 52–57% from 2012–2022.
- Implication: Indicates possible sex-linked behavioural or biological risk factors.
Age-Wise Distribution (2022)
- Men:
- Liver disease mortality peaks in the 35–54 age group.
- Suggests early onset of risk factors like alcohol and lifestyle issues.
- Women:
- 30% of female deaths from digestive diseases occurred in the 65+ age group.
- Likely indicates age-related liver complications rather than lifestyle-induced disease.
State-Level Insights
- Sikkim has the highest proportion of certified deaths from digestive diseases (~20%).
- North-Eastern states show a distinct trend:
- Five states record >10% deaths due to digestive diseases — the highest regional cluster.
- No other Indian region shows such high percentages.
- Insight: Strong regional variation demands targeted public health responses.
Behavioural Risk Factors
- Alcohol Consumption:
- Only 1% of women vs. 19% of men consume alcohol in India (NFHS data).
- Aligns with high male liver disease burden in middle age.
- Meat Consumption:
- Excessive intake is also linked to liver disease.
- Combined alcohol + meat consumption is highest in North-East India, potentially explaining regional spikes.
- Inference: Strong correlation (not causation) between diet/lifestyle and liver disease trends.
Need for More Research
- While patterns are clear, the evidence is correlational.
- There is no established causation between alcohol/meat and liver disease mortality yet.
- Call to Action:
- Invest in epidemiological studies.
- Map risk factors by age, sex, and region for policy design.
Policy & Health System Implications
- Early detection and awareness programmes targeting middle-aged men are crucial.
- Region-specific interventions (especially in North-East) are needed.
- Health infrastructure must be adapted to deal with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like liver disorders.
- Behaviour change communication (BCC) on alcohol and meat consumption should be tailored to demographics and regions.
