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Bausch Health and Salix Survey Highlights Urgent Need for Improved Understanding of Liver Disease Across Healthcare Provider Disciplines as Prevalence of Cirrhosis Rises
Findings show care for chronic liver disease patients is falling on non-specialists who need stro...
About this update from Bausch Health Companies Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Bausch Health and Salix Survey Highlights Urgent Need for Improved Understanding of Liver Disease Across Healthcare Provider Disciplines as Prevalence of Cirrhosis RisesFindings show care for chronic liver disease patients is falling on non-specialists who need stronger education and support to ensure patients receive timely, optimal care1LAVAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / October 8, 2024 / Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE:BHC)(TSX:BHC) and its gastroenterology (GI) business, Salix Pharmaceuticals (\"Salix\"), today released Liver Health Trends Report in Action, the latest Liver Health Annual Trends Report dedicated to sparking actionable change to improve liver disease management and outcomes for patients. Healthcare provider (HCP) survey participants called for holistic, multi-disciplinary treatment approaches, consistent use of non-invasive screening tools (e.g., FIB-4 Index) and better education to identify at-risk patients sooner and prevent future complications of severe liver disease.1Approximately 4.5 million adults in the United States are diagnosed with chronic liver disease (CLD), which can lead to cirrhosis.2 Often, cirrhosis indicates permanent liver damage, so earlier diagnosis and prevention are critical for patients living with liver disease. As of 2022, CLD is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S. with mortality associated with CLD projected to nearly triple by 2030. 2,3 When compared to patients with chronic heart failure, people with cirrhosis have nearly double the post-emergency department visit mortality rate (6.9% vs 12.2%, respectively), reinforcing the need for broader use of risk-stratification tools and for increased awareness of cirrhosis-associated risks by all HCPs. 4\"Recent liver disease trends are alarming, and as the number of patients needing care rises and the number of specialists declines, too often patients are left waiting or lost to follow-up until they have symptoms of irreversible liver disease,\" said Nancy Reau, MD, section chief of hepatology at Rush Medical Center. \"While progress in liver disease management has been made, it is evident that challenges remain. More consistent use of diagnostic tests and scores helps identify severe disease earlier, and elevated national attention on liver disease as a public health priority may help lessen the burden of illness on the broader health...