BSMS lecturer and liver specialist Dr Sumita Verma is being funded by the Dunhill Medical Trust.
, a commissioned report published recently in The Lancet, showed that mortality rates from liver disease have increased by almost 500 per cent since 1970. Liver disease is now the third most common cause of premature death in the UK, and is predominantly caused by alcohol, obesity and hepatitis C.
Data from the report shows that 73 per cent of patients admitted with chronic liver disease (including advanced forms such as cirrhosis or liver failure) had not been referred to a liver clinic prior to hospitalisation. Cirrhosis does not present symptoms in early stages and liver disease is often only first diagnosed when patients experience complications.
Dr Verma, an Honorary Consultant Hepatologist at 91¶¶Òõ and Sussex University Hospital (BSUH) and Kings College Hospital, said: “Many people with hepatitis C in England are vulnerable adults who are less likely to engage with health services. This might explain why about 75 per cent of individuals are still undiagnosed. That’s why it’s so important to reach them in the community, and treat them before their illness becomes critical.”
In July, BSUH was selected as one of the Regional Hepatitis C Centres.
Dr Verma said: “Both the Dunhill Medical Trust grant and designation of Regional Centre status should help in reducing the unacceptably-high morbidity and mortality associated with chronic liver disease.”
Co-investigators include Dr Tim Worthley, GP at 91¶¶Òõ Homeless Healthcare, and Guruprasad Aithal, Professor of Hepatology, Digestive Diseases Biomedical Research Centre at the University of Nottingham.