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Nationwide epidemiological survey of early chronic pancreatitis in Japan
Atsushi Masamune1, Kazuhiro Kikuta2, Tatsuhide Nabeshima2
1Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan. amasamune@med.tohoku.ac.jp.
Insights
This study clarifies the clinico-epidemiological features of early chronic pancreatitis (CP) in Japan, estimating its prevalence and incidence. Early CP shows distinct features compared to definite CP, with idiopathic and alcoholic causes being most common.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Epidemiology
- Pancreatology
Background:
- Japan introduced the first diagnostic criteria for early chronic pancreatitis (CP) in 2009.
- Understanding the clinico-epidemiological profile of early CP is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the clinico-epidemiological features of early chronic pancreatitis (CP) in Japan.
- To estimate the prevalence and incidence of early CP in the Japanese population.
Main Methods:
- A two-stage survey was conducted in 2011 among patients diagnosed with early CP.
- The first stage estimated the number of early CP patients via questionnaire.
- The second stage assessed detailed clinical features of a subset of patients.
Main Results:
- Estimated prevalence of early CP was 4.2 per 100,000 persons (5410 patients).
- Annual incidence was 1.0 per 100,000 persons (1330 newly diagnosed patients).
- Idiopathic (47.7%) and alcoholic (45.0%) etiologies were most common; early CP had higher proportions of female and idiopathic cases than definite CP.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully clarified the current status of early chronic pancreatitis in Japan.
- Findings highlight key demographic and etiological differences between early and definite CP.
Background:
The world's first diagnostic criteria for early CP were proposed in 2009 in Japan. This study aimed to clarify the clinico-epidemiological features of early CP in Japan.
Methods:
Patients with early CP who were diagnosed according to the diagnostic criteria for early CP and had visited the selected hospitals in 2011 were surveyed. The study consisted of two-stage surveys: the number of patients with early CP was estimated by the first questionnaire and their clinical features were assessed by the second questionnaire.
Results:
The estimated number of early CP patients was 5410 (95% confidence interval 3675-6945), with an overall prevalence of 4.2 per 100,000 persons. The number of patients who were newly diagnosed with early CP was estimated to be 1330 (95% confidence interval 1058-1602), with an annual incidence of 1.0 per 100,000 persons. Detailed clinical information was obtained in 151 patients in the second survey. The male-to-female sex ratio was 1.32:1. The mean age was 60.4 and the mean age at disease onset was 55.4. Idiopathic (47.7%) and alcoholic (45.0%) were the two most common etiologies. Proportions of female and idiopathic cases were higher in early CP than in definite CP. Hyperechoic foci without shadowing and stranding were the most common findings on endoscopic ultrasonography. The clinical profiles of early CP patients who showed lobularity with honeycombing on endoscopic ultrasonography or previous episodes of acute pancreatitis were similar to those of definite CP patients.
Conclusions:
We clarified the current status of early CP in Japan.
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