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Racial, Socioeconomic, and Comorbidity-Associated Disparities in Acute Pancreatitis
Qilin Cao1, Shady Barsoom2, Aziz M Merchant3
1Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York.
Insights
Racial and socioeconomic factors significantly impact acute pancreatitis (AP) causes and outcomes. Identifying at-risk groups is crucial for targeted interventions to reduce disparities in AP.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Health Services Research
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Acute pancreatitis (AP) presents a substantial medical and financial burden in the US.
- Despite treatment advancements, significant disparities in AP etiology and outcomes persist across racial, income, and insurance groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the associations between race, socioeconomic factors, and AP etiologies and outcomes.
- To evaluate the relationship between comorbidities and adverse AP outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2015-2020).
- Stratification of AP etiology (idiopathic, biliary, alcohol-induced, drug-induced).
- Utilized SPSS for demographic analysis and logistic regression; SAS for comorbidity analysis.
Main Results:
- Significant racial and socioeconomic differences in AP etiologies observed: Black and Medicaid patients showed higher rates of alcohol-induced AP; Hispanic individuals had higher rates of biliary AP.
- Variations in AP outcomes including mortality, length of stay, and ICU admission were noted.
- Comorbidities like congestive heart failure and pulmonary circulation disorders correlated with outcome variations.
Conclusions:
- Observed demographic disparities underscore the necessity for early identification of vulnerable populations susceptible to AP complications.
- Further research is required to elucidate underlying factors and develop targeted interventions for AP.
Introduction:
Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a disease that creates a significant medical and financial burden in the United States. Despite improved treatment, prominent disparities exist in the etiologies and outcomes of AP between patients' race, income, and insurance status.
Methods:
Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample between 2015 and 2020, this study examined associations between race, socioeconomic factors, and the etiologies and outcomes of AP. It also evaluated the relationship between comorbidities and adverse AP outcomes. We stratified AP etiology as idiopathic, biliary, alcohol-induced, or drug-induced. We used SPSS for demographic analysis and logistic regression, and SAS for comorbidity analysis.
Results:
We found prominent racial and socioeconomic differences in the AP etiologies, with Black patients and Medicaid patients more likely to experience alcohol-induced pancreatitis and the Hispanic population more likely to experience biliary pancreatitis. Variations in outcomes such as mortality, length of stay, and ICU admission were also observed. The presence of comorbidities, including congestive heart failure and pulmonary circulation disorders, was associated with variations in these outcomes.
Conclusions:
These demographic disparities highlight the need for prompt identification of vulnerable populations at risk for developing pancreatitis-related complications. Further research is needed to understand the underlying factors contributing to these associations and to inform targeted interventions.
Related Concept Videos
Acute Pancreatitis I: Introduction
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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:
Acute Pancreatitis II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
Chronic Pancreatitis II: Pathophysiology
Acute Pancreatitis II: Pathophysiology
Chronic 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...
