To Örebro University

Background and aims: Chronic liver diseases affects approximately 844 million individuals and causes an estimated two million deaths per year. The most common causes are chronic viral hepatitis, alcohol-related liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. With the availability of curative treatments and effective vaccines for viral hepatitis and increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome-thel andscape of liver diseases is shifting. In this study, we aimed to describe the incidence and prevalence of a wide range of chronic liver diseases as well as their role in mortality in Sweden.

Method: In this register-based, nationwide cohort study, aggregated statistics, stratified on categories of age, sex and geographic allocations, on all adult Swedish inhabitants with a diagnosis of liver disease during 2005 to 2019 were obtained from National registers.

Results: During 2005 to 2019, there were substantial changes in the epidemiology of liver diseases in Sweden. The incidence of alcohol-related cirrhosis increased by 18% annually (incidence rate 13.1/100, 000 in 2019). The incidence rate of non-alcoholic fatty liver diseasea nd cirrhosis with unspecified etiology increased by 14% and 20% annually respectively (incidence rate 15.2 and 18.7/100, 000). Furthermore, incidence rates of chronic hepatitis C steeply declined, while autoimmune hepatitis increased (3.4/100, 000). In parallel with the increasing incidence of liver cirrhosis, liver malignancies have become more common.

The most common causes of liver related mortality were alcohol-related disease without a code for cirrhosis, alcohol-related cirrhosis, and unspecified liver disease with mortality rates of 4.1, 2.9, and 2.8/100, 000. Most liver diseases were more frequent amongst men. Furthermore, varying differences was seen in the incidence ratebetween regions, with some etiologies (e.g. autoimmune liver diseases) being more common in rural areas.

Conclusion: The incidence rates of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcohol-related cirrhosis, unspecified liver cirrhosis has increased during the last 15 years, in parallel with a decreasing incidence of viral hepatitis. The incidence of AIH and hepatobiliary malignancies is also increasing. Worryingly, mortality in several liver diseases increased, likely reflecting the increasing incidence of cirrhosis. Significant disparities of liver diseases exist across sex and geographical regions, which needs to be considered when allocating healthcare resources.