Aetiology, Severity and Outcome of Patients Admitted with Acute Pancreatitis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: To determine the aetiology, severity and outcome of patients admitted with acute pancreatitis at Hamdard University Hospital Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Hamdard University Hospital Karachi from January 2021 to June 2023. Patients aged 18 years and above who were admitted to the hospital with confirmed acute pancreatitis, admitted through the emergency department or by direct admission were included. Patient’s demographic data, aetiology, along with the severity of disease and outcome, such as alive or dead, were noted. Bedside Index of Severity in Acute Pancreatitis was used to assess the severity of the disease. Results: Of the 188 patients, the mean age was 59.14 ±9.52 years. Mild acute pancreatitis was observed in 58 (30.9%), moderate in 95 (50.5%), and severe in 35 (18.6%) patients. Biliary pancreatitis was the most common etiology in 129 (68.6%) participants, whereas symptoms of abdominal pain and abdominal distension were observed in all 188 (100%) patients. A significant association of acute pancreatitis was observed with age (p-value <0.001), gender (p-value 0.047), length of hospital stays (p-value <0.001), and Computed Tomography Severity Index (CTSI) severity (p-value <0.001). Mortality was observed in 9 (4.8%) patients with severe acute pancreatitis. Conclusion: In conclusion, biliary pancreatitis was the most common etiology of patients admitted with acute pancreatitis. Significant associations were found between the severity of acute pancreatitis and various factors including age, gender, hospital stay duration, and CTSI severity. The overall mortality appeared only in patients with severe acute pancreatitis.

Keywords

• Acute Pancreatitis
• Etiologies
• Mortality
• Severity