Epidemiology

The incidence, prevalence, and mortality reported for chronic pancreatitis vary as a result of differences in study design, diagnostic criteria, and geography. The age at presentation varies with aetiology. The peak age at presentation for hereditary pancreatitis is 10-14 years, for juvenile idiopathic chronic pancreatitis is 19-23 years, for alcoholic chronic pancreatitis is 36-44 years, and for senile idiopathic chronic pancreatitis is 56-62 years.[10][11][12]

The global pooled incidence of chronic pancreatitis is 9.62 cases (95% CI 7.86 to 11.78) per 100,000 person-years, and mortality is 0.09 deaths (95% CI 0.02 to 0.47) per 100,000 person-years.[13]​ Incidence is significantly higher in the European region than in North America and Western Pacific regions.[13]​ Prevalence data (derived from a limited number of populations) range from 0.03% to 0.05%.[14][15][16][17]​ Data from autopsy studies indicate that the prevalence of chronic pancreatitis ranges from 0.04% to 5%.[18][19]

One meta-analysis of 14 studies suggested that the prevalence of chronic pancreatitis was 10% after a first attack of pancreatitis and 36% after multiple attacks.[20]

Similar to acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis affects older and middle-aged people.[21]​ The incidence of chronic pancreatitis in men is twice that in women.​[13][21]

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