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All-cause mortality in people with cirrhosis compared with the general population: a population-based cohort study
Article first published online: 6 APR 2011
DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02517.x
© 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S
Additional Information
How to Cite
Fleming, K. M., Aithal, G. P., Card, T. R. and West, J. (2012), All-cause mortality in people with cirrhosis compared with the general population: a population-based cohort study. Liver International, 32: 79–84. doi: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02517.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 7 DEC 2011
- Article first published online: 6 APR 2011
- Received 17 November 2010, Accepted 2 March 2011
- Abstract
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Keywords:
- cirrhosis;
- epidemiology;
- mortality
Abstract
Background: Mortality due to cirrhosis has tripled over the last 30 years in the UK. However, we lack adequate, contemporary, population-based estimates of the excess mortality patients who are at risk compared with the general population.
Aim: To determine the overall survival in patients with cirrhosis compared with the general population taking into account the effects of severity and aetiology of disease and comorbidity.
Methods: In a cohort study, we identified 4537 people with cirrhosis and a control cohort of 44 403 patients, matched by age, sex and general practice from the UK General Practice Research Database between June 1987 and April 2002.
Results: Patients with compensated cirrhosis had a nearly five-fold [hazard ratio (HR) 4.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.4–5.0] increased risk of death, while those with decompensated cirrhosis had a near 10-fold (HR 9.7, 95% CI 8.9–10.6) increased risk compared with the general population. Alcoholic cirrhosis conferred a worse prognosis than non-alcohol-related cirrhosis both in the first year following diagnosis and subsequently.
Conclusion: Having a diagnosis of cirrhosis confers a substantial increased mortality risk compared with the general population, even for those with compensated disease, with 5-year survival between that seen for breast and colorectal cancer.