Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 29, 2026
Sodium Taurocholate Induced Severe Acute Pancreatitis in C57BL/6 Mice
Published on: June 28, 2021
Obesity is a definitive risk factor of severity and mortality in acute pancreatitis: an updated meta-analysis
J Martínez1, C D Johnson, J Sánchez-Payá
1Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain. martinez_juasem@gva.es
Background/Aims:
Obesity is considered a risk factor in patients with acute pancreatitis. However, the relationship between obesity and mortality in this disease has not been confirmed definitively even in a previous meta-analysis. Since the publication of our previous meta-analysis, one study has been reported about the prognostic value of obesity in acute pancreatitis. We have performed a new meta-analysis to confirm the relationship between obesity and the outcome of acute pancreatitis.
Data Sources:
A MEDLINE search using 'pancreatitis', 'obesity' and 'body mass index' as search terms.
Review Methods:
Clinical studies which investigated the prognostic value of obesity in acute pancreatitis with the following criteria: (a) inclusion of mild and severe acute pancreatitis; (b) use of body mass index (BMI) as the measure of obesity; (c) definition of obesity as BMI >or=30 kg/m(2); (d) definition of severity of acute pancreatitis according to the criteria established in the Atlanta Symposium. Five studies including patients with mild and severe acute pancreatitis and obesity measured by BMI were analyzed. The end points of the meta-analysis were the severity of acute pancreatitis, local complications, systemic complications and mortality. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) were calculated according to the Mantel-Haenszel method, and heterogeneity was assessed by the multiplicative inverse variance method.
Results:
Seven hundred and thirty-nine patients were included. There was no heterogeneity for the variables severity, systemic complications, local complications and mortality among the included studies. Severe acute pancreatitis was significantly more frequent in obese patients (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.8-4.6). Furthermore, those patients developed significantly more systemic (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.4-3.8) and especially local complications (OR 3.8, 95% CI 2.4-6.6). In this new analysis, mortality was also higher in obese patients (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.0-4.8).
Conclusion:
Obesity is not only a risk factor for the development of local and systemic complications in acute pancreatitis: it also increases the mortality of this disease.
More Related Videos
07:38Preparing a Mice Model of Severe Acute Pancreatitis via a Combination of Caerulein and Lipopolysaccharide Intraperitoneal Injection
Published on: May 10, 2024
03:07Development and Validation of a Methodology for Establishing Obese Rat Models with Typical Fatty Pancreas
Published on: November 11, 2025
Related Concept Videos
01:27Acute Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Acute pancreatitis is characterized by rapid inflammation of the pancreas, often caused by factors like gallstone blockage or excessive alcohol consumption. Chronic pancreatitis, on the other hand, is a slow, progressive inflammation that may result from long-term alcohol abuse, obstructions in the pancreatic duct, or genetic factors.
The causes of acute pancreatitis include:
01:30Acute Pancreatitis II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
01:24Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
01:25Acute Pancreatitis I: Introduction
01:21Acute Pancreatitis II: Pathophysiology
01:25Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction