Changing Trends in Liver Cirrhosis Etiology and Severity in Korea: the Increasing Impact of Alcohol
Jae Hyun Yoon, Chung Hwan Jun, Jeong Han Kim, Eileen L. Yoon, Byung Seok Kim, Jeong Eun Song, Ki Tae Suk, Moon Young Kim, Seong Hee Kang
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis B is the most common cause of liver cirrhosis in South Korea. However, alcoholic liver disease has shown an increasing trend. Although the clinical implications surrounding liver cirrhosis have been changing over the years, few studies have recently examined cirrhosis epidemiology. Therefore, we aimed to investigate changes in liver cirrhosis etiology and severity in Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 16,888 records of cirrhotic patients from six tertiary hospitals in Korea from 2008 to 2017. Continuous and non-continuous variables were processed via linear and Poisson regression, expressed as beta (B) coefficients and as exponentiated values of coefficients (Exp[B]), respectively. RESULTS: = 0.005) over 10 years. CONCLUSION: The chronic hepatitis B group exhibited improved results, whereas the alcohol group still presented poor liver functions and outcomes. Future national policies and systematic approaches addressing the incidence, prevention, and treatment of alcoholic liver cirrhosis are indispensable.