Episodic and Long-term Costs of Acute Pancreatitis Requiring Hospitalization Among Adults in US Clinical Practice

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. While most patients fully recover following the acute phase of illness, some develop long-term complications. The objective of this study was to estimate short- and long-term costs among adults hospitalized with AP in US clinical practice, overall and within subgroups defined by AP cause.

A retrospective cohort design and health care claims database were employed. The study population comprised adults hospitalized for AP (first admission = index admission), and was considered overall as well as by AP cause (alcohol-induced, biliary-induced, drug-induced, cause unknown, and multiple causes). AP-related health care utilization/expenditures were evaluated during the short-term episode (index admission + encounters separated by <30 days) and long-term follow-up period (1 year from end of episode).

Among the 5051 hospitalized AP patients in the study population, 7% (range by AP cause: 6%-8%) had necrosis, 22% (19%-26%) had organ failure, 12% (6%-16%) had sepsis, and 14% (9%-19%) had systemic inflammatory response syndrome. During the long-term follow-up period, rates of recurrent AP and chronic pancreatitis were 14 (8-29) and 15 (10-25), respectively, per 100 person-years. Mean AP-related expenditures were $31,119 ($22,963-$37,733) during the short-term episode, and $12,470 ($9,614-$20,657) during the long-term follow-up period; total expenditures averaged $43,598 ($32,577-$58,390) per patient.

The cost of AP requiring hospitalization is high, for the treatment of both acute disease as well as associated long-term complications, which underscores the potential economic benefits from the prevention of this condition.