New data released today has shed light on the lack of awareness and monitoring of liver health among the general population. According to the survey commissioned by Liver UK, the new charity formed by the merger of the British Liver Trust and Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, only 9% of people actively think about or monitor their liver health. This is despite liver disease being one of the leading causes of premature death among working-age adults.
The survey, which was embargoed until 00:01 on Tuesday 14 July 2026, also revealed that liver disease is largely absent from the UK’s biggest health concerns. When asked to name the top three health conditions they worry about, respondents overwhelmingly identified cancer, heart disease, stroke, and mental health. Liver disease barely featured, even though it caused more than 12,300 deaths across the UK in 2023. It remains one of the few major disease areas where mortality continues to rise, and is now the second biggest killer of people under 65 in England and Wales, according to the latest ONS statistics.
One of the most concerning findings from the survey is the widespread misconceptions about liver disease. For example, one in three people wrongly believe that liver disease is only caused by alcohol, and one in five incorrectly believe that babies and children cannot develop liver disease. Additionally, more than half of the respondents did not know that liver disease can develop without symptoms in its early stages. Only a small percentage correctly identified liver disease as one of the leading causes of death among working-age adults.
Unlike many major health conditions, liver disease disproportionately affects people before old age. Premature deaths from liver disease in England have increased by 42% since 2001, while mortality rates for many other major diseases have fallen. This highlights the urgent need for greater awareness, earlier diagnosis, and improved prevention.
Pamela Healy, Chief Executive of Liver UK, expressed her concern over the survey results. “The most striking thing about this survey isn’t just what people got wrong,” she said. “It’s that liver disease barely featured at all when people were asked which health conditions worry them most.”
Healy added, “Yet liver disease is claiming thousands of lives across the UK every year, often in people of working age, while too many people remain unaware of the risks until the damage has already been done. We need the Government and the NHS to do more to prioritize prevention, early diagnosis, and access to care. Too many families are facing avoidable heartbreak because liver disease is being detected too late.”
Liver UK’s call for greater action on prevention and early diagnosis is based on the experiences of families affected by the disease. The impact of late diagnosis is exemplified by the story of Sara Harding and her family. Harding’s father, Stephen, passed away at the age of 62, just months after being diagnosed with advanced liver disease. “Before my dad became ill, none of us realized how serious liver disease could be or how easily it can develop without obvious symptoms,” Harding shared. She further added, “What we’ve learned is that people need to understand their risk factors, not just the symptoms. Liver disease can progress silently for years. If more people knew about conditions such as fatty liver disease and the importance of monitoring liver health, it could help prevent other families going through what we have.”
In light of these findings, Liver UK is urging for greater awareness and education on liver health and the importance of early detection. The organization believes that this could potentially save lives and prevent families from experiencing the heartbreak caused by late diagnosis.
