The Obesity-Pancreatitis Conundrum in the Asian Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Methodological...

This meta-analysis aims to combine existing studies to understand how obesity affects when acute pancreatitis happens and how it progresses in Asian populations. A comprehensive literature search was meticulously performed across major electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Baseline characteristics and relevant clinical outcomes from the identified studies were thoroughly evaluated. For the quantitative synthesis, meta-analytic techniques were employed. Specifically, odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for dichotomous outcomes, while mean differences (MDs) with 95% CIs were utilized for continuous outcomes. To account for potential variability among studies, a random-effects model was consistently applied.  Our analysis of 14 studies with 1,337,508 patients revealed that obesity significantly increases the risk and severity of acute pancreatitis in Asian populations. A clear dose-response relationship was observed, with individuals having a BMI of ≥30 kg/m² facing the highest risk (OR 2.75). Obese patients experienced higher rates of pancreatic necrosis (OR 2.15) and organ failure (OR 2.40). Furthermore, they had longer hospital stays, with an average overall increase of 3.5 days. While heterogeneity existed among studies (I² values ranging from 4% to 92%), the overall findings consistently highlight obesity's detrimental impact.  Obesity is a significant factor contributing to acute pancreatitis among Asians. Therefore, efforts to control the obesity problem should be a focus. More studies that follow people over time are needed to find out the exact causes and how well obesity management helps with the rates and severity of acute pancreatitis.