Background: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a disease with serious and debilitating complications. Incidence of CP is rising due to culture of binge drinking and recent increase in consumption of alcohol among females. Objective of this study was to find out characteristics, demographics, co-morbidities, investigations, interventions done, complications and the long-term consequences of disease on patient’s life.
Methods: Patients with CP who attended Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) between 2005–2015 were identified using Hospital in Patient Enquiry (HIPE) database. A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database was performed to analyse data to find relation of gender, smoking, age, alcohol and complications with exocrine, endocrine dysfunction, osteopenia, Survivability, Vitamin D deficiency and bone health.
Results: A total of 191 patients were diagnosed, treated and followed-up in TUH between 2005–2015. Sixty-nine point one percent patients were males and 30.9% were females. Alcohol was the aetiology in more than 80% of the patients. Alcohol use appears to have significant relation with severe pain P=0.012 and smoking P<0.05. Sixty-four percent patients were found to have sub-optimal bone health while 41% and 51% patients were found to have endocrine and exocrine insufficiency respectively. Twenty-nine patients required ICU admission during this follow-up period. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was performed in 123 patients followed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in 55 patients. Morphological complications have significant relation with exocrine and endocrine insufficiency with P=0.017 and 0.006 respectively.
Conclusions: CP is a complex disease with unpredictable and variable course. A protocol led and multidisciplinary approach to complications presented by this disease can help in achieving favourable outcomes.
