--- title: "Rising prevalence of single and multiple organ fibrosis in England, 2012–2022" id: "bmj-open-2-temporal-trends-in-single-and-multiple-organ-fibrosis-prevalence-and-primary" canonical_url: "https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/bmj-open-2-temporal-trends-in-single-and-multiple-organ-fibrosis-prevalence-and-primary" content_type: "clinical_feed_article" specialty: "General" source_name: "BMJ Open" source_url: "http://bmjopen.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/16/9/e113800?rss=1" published_at: "2026-09-22T17:11:09.000Z" evidence_level: "Journal Feed" license: "CC-BY-NC-4.0 / Informational Use" --- # Rising prevalence of single and multiple organ fibrosis in England, 2012–2022 ## Provenance & Clinical Metadata - **Canonical URL:** https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/bmj-open-2-temporal-trends-in-single-and-multiple-organ-fibrosis-prevalence-and-primary - **Specialty:** [General](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/general.md) - **Primary Source:** BMJ Open - **Source URL:** [Original Journal Publication](http://bmjopen.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/16/9/e113800?rss=1) - **Published At:** 2026-09-22T17:11:09.000Z - **Evidence Rating:** Journal Feed ## Executive GIST (TL;DR) - This retrospective population-based cohort study used linked primary care (CPRD Aurum) and secondary care (HES APC) electronic health records to assess temporal trends in **fibrosis** from 2012 to 2022. - The study included adults aged ≥18 with available primary and secondary care records; the cohort identified 5,839,459 people with at least one fibrotic condition within a denominator of 18,784,962 adults. - Fibrotic conditions were defined using codes identified through a clinician Delphi survey and were ascertained in either primary or secondary care records. - Overall prevalence of fibrotic conditions rose by 6.72% across the study period; by 2022, 19.95% (95% CI 19.92%–19.98%) of adults had at least one fibrotic condition. - Prevalence of **multiple organ fibrosis** increased from 4.78% (95% CI 4.76%–4.79%) in 2012 to 8.51% (95% CI 8.50%–8.53%) in 2022. - Health-care use in the year before diagnosis differed by burden: median primary care consultations were 14 for single organ fibrosis and 21 for multiple organ fibrosis. - Time-updated number of fibrotic conditions was tested in Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age and sex. Risk of death rose markedly with multimorbidity: two fibrotic conditions — HR 2.90 (95% CI 2.87–2.93); three conditions — HR 5.22 (95% CI 5.14–5.30) compared with single organ fibrosis. - Authors estimate **multiple organ fibrosis** affects more than 3 million people in the UK and is increasing. - The findings indicate growing burden of fibrotic multimorbidity, higher healthcare use before diagnosis, and substantially increased mortality risk with multiple organ involvement; the paper highlights the potential for earlier recognition and targeted interventions to reduce mortality. ## Clinical Analysis & Structured Key Points Objective To understand how prevalence estimates of single and multiple organ fibrosis have changed from 2012 to 2022. Design Retrospective population-based cohort study. Setting Data from primary (Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum) and secondary care (Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care) electronic health records were used to conduct this study. Participants Adults aged 18 years and older whose primary and secondary care records were available for research. Main outcome measure Fibrotic conditions previously determined from a Delphi survey of clinicians; diagnoses were found in either primary or secondary care records. The primary analysis estimated the prevalence of both single and multiple organ fibrosis. A secondary analysis used Cox proportional hazards models to investigate the association between the time-updated number of fibrotic conditions and risk of death, adjusting for age and sex. Results The cohort consisted of 5 839 459 people with at least one fibrotic condition and a denominator of 18 784 962 people. Over the study period, prevalence of fibrotic conditions increased by 6.72%, and as of 2022, 19.95% (95% CI 19.92% to 19.98%) of adults had at least one fibrotic condition. The prevalence of multiple organ fibrosis increased from 4.78% (95% CI 4.76% to 4.79%) in 2012 to 8.51% (95% CI 8.50% to 8.53%) in 2022. In the year preceding diagnosis of single organ fibrosis, the median number of primary care consultations was 14 compared with 21 consultations for people with multiple organ fibrosis. Compared with people with single organ fibrosis, people with two fibrotic conditions had a mortality HR of 2.90 (95% CI 2.87 to 2.93), while people with three fibrotic conditions had a mortality HR of 5.22 (95% CI 5.14 to 5.30). Conclusions The prevalence of single and multiple organ fibrosis has substantially increased over a decade. People with multiple organ fibrosis access healthcare more than people with single organ fibrosis and are at a greater risk of mortality. Multiple organ fibrosis is estimated to affect more than 3 million people in the UK and is increasing. 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