Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Cirrhosis?SymptomsLife ExpectancyTreatmentsLiving With Cirrhosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Cirrhosis?
Symptoms
Life Expectancy
Treatments
Living With Cirrhosis
It is possible to live for many years with cirrhosis of the liver, but life expectancy depends on the stage of the condition and the treatment you receive.
Generally speaking, people with cirrhosis of the liver have a life expectancy of between two and 12 years. If you have early-stage cirrhosis, treatment and lifestyle changes can help you live longer. People with advanced cirrhosis of the liver have a much shorter life expectancy.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
What Is Cirrhosis of the Liver?
The most common causes of cirrhosis of the liver include:
How Common Is Cirrhosis of the Liver?Cirrhosis of the liver is common. In 2017, there were 5.2 million cases of cirrhosis and chronic liver disease. The condition caused 1.48 million deaths in 2019, an increase of around 8% compared to 2017.
How Common Is Cirrhosis of the Liver?
Cirrhosis of the liver is common. In 2017, there were 5.2 million cases of cirrhosis and chronic liver disease. The condition caused 1.48 million deaths in 2019, an increase of around 8% compared to 2017.
Stages of Cirrhosis of the Liver
Cirrhosis of the liver has two major stages:
Symptoms of Cirrhosis of the Liver
People in the early stage of cirrhosis of the liver often do not have any symptoms. As the condition advances, symptoms may appear or become worse.
Compensated (Early) Cirrhosis
Most people in this stage don’t have any obvious symptoms, though milder symptoms such as fatigue, poor appetite, and mild abdominal pain or disomfort are sometimes present.
How long can you have cirrhosis without knowing?It is possible to live for many years with cirrhosis without knowing that you have it. This is because the early stage of cirrhosis (compensated cirrhosis) doesn’t usually cause symptoms, so you may not know that you need to seek treatment.
How long can you have cirrhosis without knowing?
It is possible to live for many years with cirrhosis without knowing that you have it. This is because the early stage of cirrhosis (compensated cirrhosis) doesn’t usually cause symptoms, so you may not know that you need to seek treatment.
Decompensated (Advanced) Cirrhosis
If you have decompensated cirrhosis, you are more likely to experience symptoms and complications such as:
Pain increases as the disease progresses and you may feel pain beyond the abdomen as cirrhosis causes inflammation throughout the body.
Is cirrhosis classed as a terminal illness?Cirrhosis of the liver cannot be reversed, so it is considered a terminal condition. However, treatment can prolong the life of someone with cirrhosis for many years, especially if the disease is in the earliest stage at diagnosis.
Is cirrhosis classed as a terminal illness?
Cirrhosis of the liver cannot be reversed, so it is considered a terminal condition. However, treatment can prolong the life of someone with cirrhosis for many years, especially if the disease is in the earliest stage at diagnosis.
Life expectancy with cirrhosis of the liver depends on the stage at diagnosis and the steps you and your healthcare provider take to treat and manage the condition.
People with compensated cirrhosis of the liver generally have a life expectancy of between nine and 12 years. With compensated cirrhosis, it is possible to live a healthy life with lifestyle changes. People with decompensated cirrhosis tend to have a much shorter life expectancy of around two years.
Some of the variables that can influence your life expectancy include:
The amount of time you have to live after your diagnosis depends on your health and how far the disease has progressed. If you have alcoholic liver disease, one of the most important things you can do to increase your lifespan is to quit drinking.
If you have cirrhosis of the liver, there are things you can do to help treat the condition and improve your life expectancy. The most important thing you can do is treat the cause of the condition.
If you have alcoholic liver disease, for example, stop drinking alcohol. If you are alcohol-dependent, you may need professional treatment to break youraddiction.
Other treatments include:
Living With Cirrhosis of the Liver
Cirrhosis of the liver can’t be reversed, but it is possible to slow or stop its progression. If you have risk factors for cirrhosis of the liver, it’s important to see a healthcare provider regularly so the condition can be diagnosed early. Early diagnosis, treatment, and management can prolong your life for many years.
Quitting alcohol, losing weight, and adopting a healthy lifestyle are the best things you can do while living with cirrhosis of the liver. Make sure to see your healthcare provider regularly. If your condition progresses, talk with your healthcare provider about the possibility of a liver transplant.
How long can you live with cirrhosis of the liver if you keep drinking?If you have cirrhosis of the liver, quitting drinking is the most important thing you can do to increase your lifespan. Research suggests that a person with cirrhosis who quits drinking has a 72% chance of living for at least seven years after diagnosis, while someone who continues to drink has only a 44% chance.
How long can you live with cirrhosis of the liver if you keep drinking?
If you have cirrhosis of the liver, quitting drinking is the most important thing you can do to increase your lifespan. Research suggests that a person with cirrhosis who quits drinking has a 72% chance of living for at least seven years after diagnosis, while someone who continues to drink has only a 44% chance.
Summary
Cirrhosis of the liver is a scarring of the liver that happens after many years of swelling and inflammation. It can have several possible causes, including long-term alcohol consumption and viral hepatitis.
Life expectancy with cirrhosis of the liver depends on whether you are in the early or late stage of the disease. People in the early stage of the disease may live between nine and 12 years, while people in the late stages may only live two years.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Singal AK, Bataller R, Ahn J, Kamath PS, Shah VH.ACG clinical guideline: alcoholic liver disease.Am J Gastroenterol. 2018;113(2):175-194. doi:10.1038/ajg.2017.469Liu YB, Chen MK.Epidemiology of liver cirrhosis and associated complications: Current knowledge and future directions.World J Gastroenterol. 2022;28(41):5910-5930. doi:10.3748/wjg.v28.i41.5910American Liver Foundation.Cirrhosis (severe scarring).Shetty A, Jun Yum J, Saab S.The gastroenterologist’s guide to preventive management of compensated cirrhosis.Gastroenterol Hepatol (NY). 2019;15(8):423-430Charatcharoenwitthaya P, Soonthornworasiri N, Karaketklang K, et al.Factors affecting mortality and resource use for hospitalized patients with cirrhosis: A population-based study.Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(32):e7782. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000007782Schiavo L, Busetto L, Cesaretti M, Zelber-Sagi S, Deutsch L, Iannelli A.Nutritional issues in patients with obesity and cirrhosis.World J Gastroenterol. 2018;24(30):3330-3346. doi:10.3748/wjg.v24.i30.3330Testino G, Burra P, Bonino F, et al.Acute alcoholic hepatitis, end stage alcoholic liver disease and liver transplantation: an Italian position statement.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(40):14642-51. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i40.14642Additional ReadingNational Library of Medicine.Alcoholic liver disease.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Singal AK, Bataller R, Ahn J, Kamath PS, Shah VH.ACG clinical guideline: alcoholic liver disease.Am J Gastroenterol. 2018;113(2):175-194. doi:10.1038/ajg.2017.469Liu YB, Chen MK.Epidemiology of liver cirrhosis and associated complications: Current knowledge and future directions.World J Gastroenterol. 2022;28(41):5910-5930. doi:10.3748/wjg.v28.i41.5910American Liver Foundation.Cirrhosis (severe scarring).Shetty A, Jun Yum J, Saab S.The gastroenterologist’s guide to preventive management of compensated cirrhosis.Gastroenterol Hepatol (NY). 2019;15(8):423-430Charatcharoenwitthaya P, Soonthornworasiri N, Karaketklang K, et al.Factors affecting mortality and resource use for hospitalized patients with cirrhosis: A population-based study.Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(32):e7782. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000007782Schiavo L, Busetto L, Cesaretti M, Zelber-Sagi S, Deutsch L, Iannelli A.Nutritional issues in patients with obesity and cirrhosis.World J Gastroenterol. 2018;24(30):3330-3346. doi:10.3748/wjg.v24.i30.3330Testino G, Burra P, Bonino F, et al.Acute alcoholic hepatitis, end stage alcoholic liver disease and liver transplantation: an Italian position statement.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(40):14642-51. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i40.14642Additional ReadingNational Library of Medicine.Alcoholic liver disease.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Singal AK, Bataller R, Ahn J, Kamath PS, Shah VH.ACG clinical guideline: alcoholic liver disease.Am J Gastroenterol. 2018;113(2):175-194. doi:10.1038/ajg.2017.469Liu YB, Chen MK.Epidemiology of liver cirrhosis and associated complications: Current knowledge and future directions.World J Gastroenterol. 2022;28(41):5910-5930. doi:10.3748/wjg.v28.i41.5910American Liver Foundation.Cirrhosis (severe scarring).Shetty A, Jun Yum J, Saab S.The gastroenterologist’s guide to preventive management of compensated cirrhosis.Gastroenterol Hepatol (NY). 2019;15(8):423-430Charatcharoenwitthaya P, Soonthornworasiri N, Karaketklang K, et al.Factors affecting mortality and resource use for hospitalized patients with cirrhosis: A population-based study.Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(32):e7782. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000007782Schiavo L, Busetto L, Cesaretti M, Zelber-Sagi S, Deutsch L, Iannelli A.Nutritional issues in patients with obesity and cirrhosis.World J Gastroenterol. 2018;24(30):3330-3346. doi:10.3748/wjg.v24.i30.3330Testino G, Burra P, Bonino F, et al.Acute alcoholic hepatitis, end stage alcoholic liver disease and liver transplantation: an Italian position statement.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(40):14642-51. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i40.14642
Singal AK, Bataller R, Ahn J, Kamath PS, Shah VH.ACG clinical guideline: alcoholic liver disease.Am J Gastroenterol. 2018;113(2):175-194. doi:10.1038/ajg.2017.469
Liu YB, Chen MK.Epidemiology of liver cirrhosis and associated complications: Current knowledge and future directions.World J Gastroenterol. 2022;28(41):5910-5930. doi:10.3748/wjg.v28.i41.5910
American Liver Foundation.Cirrhosis (severe scarring).
Shetty A, Jun Yum J, Saab S.The gastroenterologist’s guide to preventive management of compensated cirrhosis.Gastroenterol Hepatol (NY). 2019;15(8):423-430
Charatcharoenwitthaya P, Soonthornworasiri N, Karaketklang K, et al.Factors affecting mortality and resource use for hospitalized patients with cirrhosis: A population-based study.Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(32):e7782. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000007782
Schiavo L, Busetto L, Cesaretti M, Zelber-Sagi S, Deutsch L, Iannelli A.Nutritional issues in patients with obesity and cirrhosis.World J Gastroenterol. 2018;24(30):3330-3346. doi:10.3748/wjg.v24.i30.3330
Testino G, Burra P, Bonino F, et al.Acute alcoholic hepatitis, end stage alcoholic liver disease and liver transplantation: an Italian position statement.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(40):14642-51. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i40.14642
National Library of Medicine.Alcoholic liver disease.
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