Legislative Council: Thursday, November 17, 2022

Contents

Alcohol Induced Liver Disease and COVID-19

162 The Hon. S.L. GAME ().19 October 2022). Can the Minister for Health and Wellbeing adviseā€”In relation to alcohol induced liver disease within the South Australian population:

1. What was the incidence rate prior to COVID-19?

2. What was the incidence rate during the period of peak pandemic regulations?

3. What is the current incidence rate?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): The Minister for Health and Wellbeing has been advised:

SA Health does not have data relating to the incidence rate of alcohol-related liver disease, as it is not recorded on a register when diagnosed, as notifiable infectious diseases are.

SA Health does have data on the number of hospital admissions for people with a principal diagnosis of either alcoholic liver disease and related conditions (liver disease, hepatitis, fatty liver, fibrosis and sclerosis, and cirrhosis), unspecified liver disease and related conditions (liver disease, fatty liver and cirrhosis).

There were 368 hospitalisations in 2018-19 for alcoholic liver disease and 247 for unspecified liver disease (total of 615 cases; 3.5 per 10,000 population).

There were 344 hospitalisations in 2019-20 for alcoholic liver disease and 248 for unspecified liver disease (total of 592 cases; 3.3 per 10,000 population).

There were 464 hospitalisations in 2020-21 for alcoholic liver disease and 274 for unspecified liver disease (total of 738 cases; 4.1 per 10,000 population).

There were 472 hospitalisations in 2021-22 for alcoholic liver disease and 321 for unspecified liver disease (total of 793 cases; 4.4 per 10,000 population).