The Clinical Characteristics of Acute Pancreatitis in Gerontal Patients: A Retrospective Study

The incidence of acute pancreatitis (AP) in ageing patients has increased in recent years, and results regarding the clinical outcomes of these patients are controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of AP in ageing patients over 60 years old.

Eighty patients aged ≥80 years (oldest group) were compared to 393 patients aged 60 to 79 years (older group). The clinical course and biochemical and radiological data were evaluated. The primary endpoints were mortality rate, intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate and in-hospital length of stay (LOS). The secondary endpoints were the incidence of operative treatment and complications of AP.

Abdominal pain (61.3% vs 46.3%, P=0.013) was less common in the oldest group. Jaundice (17.5% vs 8.9%, P=0.021) and dyspnoea (26.3% vs 11.5%, P=0.001) were more obvious in the oldest group than in the older group. The mean BMI was lower in the oldest group than in the older group (21.07±3.18 vs 22.36±2.89, P = 0.001). Age over 80 years (P=0.011) and organ failure (P<0.05) were independent risk factors for mortality. More severe AP (P=0.001), abdominal pain (P=0.033) and organ failure (P<0.05) were associated with the ICU admission rate. Age over 80 years (P=0.001), more severe AP (P=0.001), female sex (P=0.018), jaundice (P=0.038), operative treatment (P<0.05) and organ failure (P<0.05) were risk factors for increased LOS.

The oldest group had a higher death rate and longer LOS than the older group. More attention should be given to the clinical symptoms of this frail population. We propose that more comprehensive and goal-directed attendant diagnostic procedures should be performed to detect the disease early and to improve the outcomes of ageing patients.