Final answer:
Chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy, predominantly affects the elderly due to various factors like viral hepatitis, alcoholism, and hereditary conditions. The elderly are more susceptible due to cumulative effects and decreased physiological resilience.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chronic liver disease, including conditions such as cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy, has the highest incidence in the elderly age group. Cirrhosis results from the irreversible replacement of dead liver cells with fibrous tissue, which can stem from causes like viral hepatitis, chronic alcoholism, and exposure to other liver-toxic chemicals.
Additionally, the presence of conditions such as fatty liver and hereditary diseases like haemochromatosis contribute to liver damage. In the elderly, the cumulative effects of these factors, alongside reduced physiological resilience, lead to a higher predisposition to liver diseases. Hepatitis, a major cause of liver disease, has several types with varying transmission modes and risks, including the fecal-oral transmission of Hepatitis A, which is preventable by vaccination.