According to a recent study, the global incidence of acute pancreatitis has steadily increased over the previous five decades, notably in Western countries.
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| Photo: Person Suffering Acute Pancreatitis | InStyleHealth |
Acute pancreatitis rates have remained relatively
consistent across Asia, indicating the need for further epidemiological
research in the region to corroborate such a pattern, according to the
researchers.
A thorough literature search was conducted, with the
goal of finding population-based studies that looked at annual acute
pancreatitis incidence rates. Joinpoint temporal trend analyses were used to
generate the average annual percent change (AAPC) values. In a meta-analysis,
AAPCs were pooled to identify global and regional changes in acute pancreatitis
incidence.
A total of 44 studies were found to be eligible for
inclusion. According to a pooled research, the global incidence rate of acute
pancreatitis increased by 3.07 percent (95 percent confidence interval [CI],
2.30–3.84) each year from 1961 to 2016.
The researchers discovered that North America (AAPC,
3.67 percent, 95 percent CI, 2.76–4.57) and Europe (AAPC, 2.77, 95 percent CI,
1.91–3.63) were driving the increased trend in acute pancreatitis. Meanwhile,
acute pancreatitis incidence rates in Asia were steady (AAPC, –0.28%, 95
percent CI, –5.03 to 4.47).
Only one study from South America and two from Oceania
were available, making statistical analysis difficult. Annual rates, however,
demonstrated a growing tendency of acute pancreatitis in these areas.
"As the epidemiology of acute pancreatitis
evolves and new clues into the underlying etiology of the disease emerge,"
the researchers said, "strategies to help manage and possibly prevent
acute pancreatitis can be created internationally."
Source: Gastroenterology
2021;doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2021.09.043