Cirrhosis hospitalization and mortality trends, 1970-87.

The decline in cirrhosis mortality in recent years in light of increases in cirrhosis morbidity, as reflected in hospital discharge data, is examined. Although there does not appear to be a single explanation for the decline in mortality, it is suggested that increased identification and treatment, as measured by substantial increases in the rates of hospitalization involving cirrhosis, may be a contributing factor. If, as suggested by hospitalization data that indicate a decreasing proportion of patients with cirrhosis die during their hospital stay, a major portion of the increase in cirrhosis admissions was for patients with less severe cases, these patients would be more responsive to treatment and would have a relatively better prognosis. The identification of contributing factors that may be responsible for the decline in cirrhosis mortality can provide support for the continuation of early diagnosis and treatment in already identified populations. The same kind of support can be extended to other population subgroups that have yet to show the same decline in cirrhosis mortality.