Liver disease death rate among worst in Europe

Alcohol is fuelling a rise in death rates from liver disease and

cirrhosis of the liver while obesity is also playing a part.

Other countries, including Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden have lower rates than England.

Death rates from chronic liver disease among men in England stands at 12.3 per 100,000, compared with an EU 15 average of 11.5.

Italy has around half England's rate at 6.9, while the figure is 3.9 in the Netherlands and 5.4 in Sweden. Finland has a high death rate at 27.7 and Germany's figure is 14.9.

Among women in England, death rates stand at 6.3, compared with an EU 15 average of 4.5.

The figure is 2.4 in Italy, 2.1 in the Netherlands and 1.9 in Sweden. Only Denmark and Luxembourg have higher rates, at 7.8 and 9.8 respectively.

The Health Profile of England 2009 report compared European death rates for people under 65.

The study also confirmed high rates of hospital admissions for alcohol and high death rates as a result of drink.

England has one of the highest rates of adult obesity in the EU and high rates of infant death while the UK has the highest teen pregnancy rate.

However, the report showed that premature deaths from heart disease and cancer are falling faster in England than the EU average.

The report also revealed UK-wide death rates as being 13.5 for men and 6.7 for women, both above the EU average of 15.

There has been a 32 per cent rise in four years of under-35s dying from alcoholic liver disease in England and Wales.