Bleak rise in illness linked to boozing and smoking

EXPERTS last night warned of a surge in Scots suffering long-term illnesses including liver and lung disease.

- By Katrine Bussey

Campaigners urged the Scottish Government to treat the rise as an emergency.

The number of women living with chronic liver disease is expected to rise by more than two-thirds by 2044.

It could take the number of women with the condition, which can be caused by alcohol, from 20,197 in 2019 to 33,834 in 2044 — an increase of 68%.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) estimated the total number of people with chronic liver disease could rise by 53.5% over the 25-year period, going from 43,190 cases to 66,287.

Health campaigners at Alcohol Focus Scotland said the “shocking” rise was a result of the county’s “ongoing alcohol emergency”.