Prevalence of Liver Disease
Approximately 10,4% to 16,7%, of the Philippine population is positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). This makes hepatitis B one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease and liver cancer in the country. There is a significant disparity in prevalence between urban areas (5.6%) and rural areas (8.4%).(www.elsevier.com)
Hepatitis B:
About 18 million Filipinos are either suffering from or at risk of fatty liver disease. This "silent epidemic" can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer. NAFLD is particularly common among individuals who are overweight, obese, diabetic, or hypertensive(PNA )
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD):
Hospital Admissions for Liver Disease
While specific daily or monthly hospital admission data are not widely available, chronic liver diseases, including cirrhosis and liver cancer, are frequent causes of hospitalization. The increasing prevalence of these conditions has placed a significant burden on healthcare facilities as patients often require intensive treatment, particularly as the diseases progress.