Prognosis

Pain

Generally, pain decreases or disappears over time, regardless of aetiology: 67% of juvenile idiopathic chronic pancreatitis after 27 years, 64% of late-onset idiopathic chronic pancreatitis after 13 years, and 77% of alcoholic chronic pancreatitis after 14 years.[10][11]​ Pain relief correlates with development of late complications of calcifications and exocrine and/or endocrine insufficiency in 60% to 80% of patients, unrelated to aetiology and/or surgery.[10][11][126]​ However, pain may vary from patient to patient, does not always decrease over time, and can be unpredictable.[127] Recurrent pain (received pain relief for 2 years or more) is associated with pancreatitis, pseudocysts, and obstructive cholestasis, the latter two being the most prominent causes of constant/prolonged pain.[10][124]​

Survival

Ten-year survival after diagnosis is 20% to 30% lower than the general population.[233] Data obtained from long-term natural history studies showed that median life expectancy varies with aetiology (juvenile idiopathic chronic pancreatitis, 50 years; senile idiopathic chronic pancreatitis, 77-80 years; alcoholic chronic pancreatitis, 55-72 years; and hereditary pancreatitis, 44 years). 

The most common causes of death varied with aetiology. In juvenile idiopathic chronic pancreatitis, the major cause of death was pancreatic carcinoma. In late-onset idiopathic chronic pancreatitis, cardiovascular disease and extra-pancreatic malignancy were the most common causes of death, followed by complications of pancreatitis. In alcoholic chronic pancreatitis, cardiovascular disease was the most common cause of death, followed by complications of pancreatitis. In hereditary pancreatitis, malignancy was the most common cause of death.[10][11]

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