[Epidemiology of liver cirrhosis].

Epidemiology of liver Cirrhosis. The prevalence of cirrhosis is estimated between 0.3% and 0.6% of the general adult population, which represents 200 000 to 400 000 cases in France. This affection is responsible for 55 000 hospital stays per year, ie about 15% of the activity of the French digestive departments and of 8 000 annual deaths. Despite the decrease in alcohol consumption in France and the effective control of viral hepatitis B and C, an increased incidence of cirrhosis is expected in industrialized countries in parallel with the epidemic of obesity and diabetes. Non-invasive fibrosis tests, particularly Fibroscan, are very effective in screening for extensive hepatic fibrosis. Applied to at-risk patients, these tests may allow for the early diagnosis and management of cirrhosis and probably improve patient survival.