Unknowingly Overlooking Chronic Hepatitis Increases the Risk of Liver Cancer

620,000 Chronic Hepatitis Patients Annually... 30% Increase in 4 Years
"If Not Recovered, Cirrhosis in 5-10 Years... Increased Risk of Liver Cancer"

Image of a normal liver (left) and a liver with chronic liver disease progressing to cirrhosis. The liver parenchyma shows coarse echoes, numerous regenerative nodules inside, resulting in an irregular and shrunken contour. In advanced cases, ascites can be observed.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Inflammation in the liver lasting more than six months is called chronic hepatitis. Acute hepatitis occurs due to various causes such as viruses, alcohol, or toxins, and with appropriate treatment, it can be cured within 3 to 4 months. For chronic hepatitis, it is important to identify and eliminate or control the causative factors, but many people neglect testing because they are unaware of their infection, despite sufficient treatment and preventive measures being available. According to statistics from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of patients increased by about 30%, from around 480,000 in 2015 to 620,000 last year.

Chronic hepatitis often goes untreated because its symptoms are not clear. Many patients are exposed to long-term risks, leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Professor Kim Ha-il of the Department of Gastroenterology at Kangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital said, "If chronic hepatitis does not recover, cirrhosis can develop within as short as 5 years or as long as 10 years, depending on the causative factors," adding, "Once cirrhosis occurs, the probability of developing liver cancer increases from as low as 2% annually to as high as 10%."

Chronic hepatitis caused by the hepatitis B virus can lead to liver cancer before cirrhosis develops. Therefore, it is important to first confirm whether one belongs to a high-risk group, determine if treatment according to the cause is necessary, and clearly understand whether regular surveillance tests are required.

▲[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

Half of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis Do Not Undergo Surveillance Tests Despite Knowing Their Condition
"Once Confirmed, Treatment and Management Are Possible... Maintain Liver Cancer Surveillance Tests"

There are three main causes of chronic hepatitis: viruses, alcohol consumption, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis associated with metabolic syndrome. Viral hepatitis is primarily caused by hepatitis B and C viruses. Patients infected with these two viruses are at high risk for liver cancer. Although they should undergo regular surveillance tests every six months, it is estimated that half of the patients do not receive these tests regularly despite knowing their infection status.

Chronic hepatitis caused by alcohol consumption is also problematic. Most patients who drink heavily often belong to vulnerable groups with underlying conditions such as hypertension or diabetes. Few patients undergo regular testing, and many are diagnosed only after cirrhosis has already developed. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is mostly related to Western-style diets or metabolic syndrome. The only current prevention and treatment method is weight loss through healthy eating habits and exercise.

Once chronic hepatitis is confirmed, appropriate treatment or management is possible. For this, it is necessary to check for the disease before symptoms appear. If chronic hepatitis is suspected, visiting a hospital to discuss cause-specific tests, treatment, and management methods is essential. Especially if cirrhosis is suspected at the time of diagnosis, patients should actively discuss management plans with their doctors and not neglect maintaining liver cancer surveillance tests. The government's increase in support for biannual abdominal ultrasound and tumor marker tests for high-risk liver cancer groups since 2016 aligns with this approach.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.