Managing the rising burden of chronic liver disease: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and alcoholic liver disease

The rising prevalence of chronic liver disease is contributing to higher rates of cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. GPs can share the increasing burden with specialist services by recognising chronic liver disease, assessing its severity, managing risk factors and comorbidities and referring appropriately. Two of the four most prevalent chronic liver diseases are discussed in this article, namely nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and alcoholic liver disease.