Perfil epidemiológico de la cirrosis hepática en Chile 1970-1992

Liver cirrhosis is an important public health problem in Chile. To review the main epidemiological features of liver cirrhosis in Chile in the last 22 years. Review of yearbooks of mortality and causes of death of the Ministry of Health and Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas, review of hospital discharge and review of international statistics published by tha WHO. The mortality rate of liver cirrhosis in 1992 was 17.9/100.000 inhabitants and represented 3.3 percent of all deaths. The risk od cirrhosis is higher among men and in people over 64 years old. In the last decade, death rates of young adults (15-44 years old) and children dicreased dramatically. Hospital discharge rates for cirrhosis have dicreased from 46.7 in 1970 to 40.4 in 1992. The men/women ratio in 1991 was 2.1/1 for hospital discharge and 2.8/1 for mortality. Mortality was higher in large urban areas (Santiago, Valparaiso and Concepcion). A correlation of +0.17 was found between death rates for cirrhosis and wine production per capita. Cirrhosis continues to be a highly prevalent disease in Chile