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Liver disease

Liver disease covers a range of conditions including alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and hepatitis. Most liver disease is preventable, with estimates suggesting over 90% of deaths are due to three risk factors: alcohol misuse, viral hepatitis and obesity, all of which are amenable to public health intervention.

The indicators from the Office for Health Improvement & Disparities' (formerly Public Health England's) Liver Disease Profiles will capture any changes. 

Key findings

All rates are directly standardised and are per 100,000 of the population for the age group stated.

Mortality figures for 2025 are provisional.

Liver Disease

  • In the 3 year period covering 2023-25 1,224 people (all ages) in Lancashire died due to liver disease, the area has a rate of 30.4 per 100,000 of the population which is statistically significantly higher when compared to England (26.6). Half of Lancashire's districts have mortality rates due to liver disease that are higher than the rate for England (Preston - 37.3, Burnley - 37.1, Rossendale - 35.0, Pendle - 34.1, Hyndburn - 33.5, and Wyre-32.5) with only Ribble Valley having a rate that is lower (19.7)

  • In 2023-25, there were 854 premature deaths (all persons under-75) from liver disease in the Lancashire-12 area. The premature mortality rate from liver disease for in Lancashire (24.3) is significantly higher compared to England (20.4).

  • Preston (29.7), Rossendale (28.4), Burnley (26.9), Lancaster (26.8) all have significantly higher rates of premature mortality due to liver disease when compared to England, as with all age mortality, Ribble Valley is the only district to have a statistically lower rate (13.9).

  • The rates of premature mortality due to liver disease are also significantly higher than England in both Blackpool (43.3) and Blackburn with Darwen (33.9).

Hospital admissions

  • In 2022/23 there were 2,190 hospital admissions due to liver disease (all persons) in Lancashire-12, giving the area a rate of 172.3, which is statistically similar to England's rate of 155.2. Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen both have rates that are significantly higher (229.5 and 237.1 respectively).

  • At district level Burnley has a significantly higher rate of hospital admissions due to liver disease for all persons (258.4) whilst West Lancashire has a significantly lower rate (106.0).

Alcoholic liver disease

  • In 2022-24 the rate of premature mortality (all persons under-75) from alcoholic liver disease in Lancashire-12 (14.6) is statistically higher than England (11.4). Blackpool (20.9) and Blackburn with Darwen (16.8) both also have significantly higher rates of mortality when compared with England.

  • 4 Lancashire districts had higher rates of premature mortality due to alcoholic liver disease (in 2022-24) when compared with England, these are Chorley (18.0), Burnley (17.4), Preston (16.2), and Lancaster (16.0).

  • In 2023/24 there were 2,384 hospital admissions due to alcoholic liver disease (broad), Lancashire's rate of 186.6 is significantly higher than England (163.4), Blackburn with Darwen (195.2) and Blackpool (248.2) both also has a significantly higher rates of admissions when compared with England.

For county and unitary data and further information please see below. 

Please note, on the indicators below, the geography may not default to Lancashire. To change this, click on the ellipses (...) next to 'Geography', then select 'Region' to change to the North West. Then click back into the geography filter and change the area (by selecting the ellipses next to the area name).

* from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Page updated July 2026