Chronic Liver Disease and Hispanic Americans

Among the Hispanic/Latino population, chronic liver disease is a leading cause of death. While the cause is not always known, some cases can be initiated by conditions such as chronic alcoholism, obesity, and exposure to hepatitis B and C viruses.

  • In 2019, chronic liver disease was the seventh leading cause of death for all Hispanics, and the fourth leading cause of death for Hispanic men, ages 45-64.1
  • Both Hispanic men and women have a chronic liver disease rate that is twice that of the non-Hispanic white population.
  • Hispanic men and women are 1.6 and 1.7 times more likely to die respectively from liver and IBD cancer than their non-Hispanic white counterparts.

Cancer Rates (2014-2018)

Cancer Incidence Rates per 100,000 – Men
CancerHispanic MenNon-Hispanic White MenHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
All Sites375.3520.40.7
Liver & IBD*20.411.31.8

*IBD = Intrahepatic Bile Duct

Source: NCI 2021. Seer Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2018. Table 1.24 and SEER*Explorer [ Accessed 7/22/2021].
https://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2018/, https://seer.cancer.gov/explorer/

Cancer Incidence Rates per 100,000 – Women
CancerHispanic WomenNon-Hispanic White WomenHispanic/Non-Hispanic White Ratio
All Sites348.4460.20.8
Liver & IBD8.24.02.1

Source: NCI 2021. Seer Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2018. Table 1.25 and SEER*Explorer [ Accessed 7/22/2021].
https://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2018/, https://seer.cancer.gov/explorer/

Diagnosed

Age-adjusted percentage of persons 18 years of age and over who have been told by a doctor that they have chronic liver disease, 2018**
HispanicMexican AmericanNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White RatioMexican American / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
2.73.41.61.72.0

**NOTE: This is the most recent national data available at this time.

Source: CDC 2020. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-4a.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

Death Rates (2014-2018)

Cancer Death Rates per 100,000 – Men
CancerHispanic MenNon-Hispanic White MenHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
All Sites134.0190.20.7
Liver & IBD13.38.41.6

Source: NCI 2021. Seer Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2018. Table 1.20
https://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2018/sections.html

Cancer Death Rates per 100,000 – Women
CancerHispanic WomenNon-Hispanic White WomenHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
All Sites94.6137.80.7
Liver & IBD6.03.61.7

Source: NCI 2021. Seer Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2018. Table 1.20
https://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2018/sections.html

Age-adjusted Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis Death Rates per 100,000 (2018)
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Men20.814.91.4
Women8.88.31.1
Total14.511.51.3

Source: CDC 2021. National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 69, No. 13. Table 10.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr69/nvsr69-13-508.pdf [PDF 2.05MB]

1CDC, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS)
http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/fatal.html