Author information
1 Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Medical Education Building, 1 Robert Wood Johnson, Room 479, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA. Electronic address: mie10@sph.rutgers.edu.
2 Center for Liver Diseases and Liver Masses, Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine, MedEd Building, Room 466, 1 Robert Wood Johnson Place, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
Abstract
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a complex condition with multiple causes each with varying degrees of severity. HE negatively impacts patients' quality of life, and it is associated with significant burdens to patients and their caregivers. The prevalence of cirrhosis, the most common risk factor for HE, has steadily increased during recent years. In turn, an upsurge in the clinical and health care burdens related to HE is expected in the upcoming years. This article provides a comprehensive review of the epidemiology of HE.