Breaking News:NIHR funds landmark early liver testing trial– What Just Happened

A new NIHR-funded study aims to prevent thousands of people at risk of liver disease from needing hospital care.

The newly-launched study, the DIAgnosis of liver disease in primary care (DIALS) trial, has been awarded £3.4million by the NIHR. It is the largest liver study in the history of the NHS. It will see around 42,000 people across the UK being screened, via their GPs, for early signs of liver disease.

Leading the study is Professor Emmanouil Tsochatzis. Professor Tsochatzis is a consultant hepatologist at the Royal Free Hospital and professor of hepatology at University College London. He is joined by Dr Ian Rowe as the co-principal investigator. Dr Rowe is a hepatologist and associate professor at the University of Leeds Institute for Medical Research. The trial also involves several other hepatologists, primary care physicians, clinical trialists, health economists and implementation scientists from across the UK.

Diagnosing patients earlier

Currently, around 70% of patients in hospital with the late stages of liver disease have not previously been diagnosed with the condition. Around 25% of those patients die within two months, leaving no opportunity for prevention. Alcohol is the leading cause of cirrhosis (irreversible scarring of the liver). Professor Tsochatzis says diagnosing those patients earlier means they can be supported to quit alcohol. In the case of fatty liver disease, they can be helped with improving their diet. Dietary improvements, in conjunction with medication, can help reverse the condition.

Professor Tsochatzis said: “This study has the potential to be ground-breaking. Diagnosing preventable liver disease earlier would have a profound effect in healthcare, the NHS and society by reducing hospitalisations and costs, reducing the number of people who die at working age and improving productivity.

“It aligns with the NHS long term plan of moving the focus away from hospital care to being cared for in the community – and the NHSE priority to reduce cancer risk as people with liver disease are at much higher risk of developing liver cancer. So our aim is for this to become national policy.”

Non-invasive scans

According to the British Liver Trust, preventable liver disease costs the NHS an estimated £4.9 billion annually. Those at higher risk of liver disease due to excessive alcohol intake, Type 2 diabetes or obesity, will be invited for testing by participating GPs. A combination of three non-invasive liver scans will be used to determine the most efficient way to diagnose the condition early. If the tests show someone might have cirrhosis, they will be referred to a specialist in hospital for further tests and treatment.

Professor Anthony Gordon, Director for NIHR’s Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme, which funded the trial, said: “Liver disease claims the lives of thousands of people each year. But evaluating screening interventions through high-quality research studies can hopefully lead to diagnosing this serious condition much earlier and prevent further deterioration.

“Studies like this have the potential to help save lives, improve patient outcomes, and enable people to live healthy, productive lives for longer.”

For more information on DIALS, please visit the study’s Funding and Awards page.