桂西地区重症急性胰腺炎病因及治疗10年变迁

Clinical features of acute pancreatitis in people of different age groups: A retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the common causes of acute abdomen in clinical practice. In the past, patients with AP were mostly young adults. However, in recent years, with the growth and aging of our country's population, the incidence of AP in the elderly and children is also on the rise. The clinical manifestations of AP at different age groups are slightly different due to their physiological characteristics. The clinical manifestations of elderly and children are atypical, which can easily lead to misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.

AIM

To analyze the clinical features of AP in people of different age groups.

METHODS

In this retrospective clinical trial, 1758 cases of AP were enrolled from January 2003 to June 2016, and they were divided into three groups according to age: <18, 18-60, and ≥ 60 years old. The general clinical data, etiology, severity of AP, complications, clinical course, prognosis, and biochemical criteria for AP were summarized in different age groups.

RESULTS

In the < 18 age group, the incidence of AP in male patients (53.8%) was slightly higher than that of females (46.2%); the proportion of mild AP (MAP) (78.5%) was higher than those the other two groups; and the rates of complications and mortality were significantly lower than those of the other two groups (P < 0.05). In the 18-60 age group, the incidence of AP in male patients (71.0%) was higher than that of the other two groups (P < 0.05); the incidence of alcoholic and hyperlipidemic pancreatitis (13.4%, 21.5%) was higher than that of the other two groups (P < 0.05); the incidence of pancreatic necrosis in this group of patients was the highest (23.4%); and the rates of peripancreatic exudation, pleural effusion, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and acute renal insufficiency (54.3%, 36.9%, 5.6%, and 6.5%, respectively) were significantly higher than those of the < 18 age group (P < 0.05). In the ≥ 60 age group, the incidence of AP in male patients (57.7%) was slightly higher than that in females (42.3%); the rate of nausea (58.2%) was significantly higher than those of the other two groups (P < 0.05); the incidence of biliary pancreatitis (61.2%) was the highest (P < 0.05); and the proportion of patients with moderately severe AP (43.5%) was higher than those of the other two groups (P < 0.05). The patients in the < 18 age group had the longest hospital stay (17.97 ± 12.14 d; P < 0.05). The proportion of patients staying in the intensive care unit and the mortality rate in the ≥ 60 age group were the highest (4.1% and 13.1%, respectively; P < 0.05). There was no difference in hospitalization cost among patients of different age groups (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in peripheral blood leukocyte count among the three groups (P > 0.05). Mean C-reactive protein level in the < 18 age group was higher than those of the other two groups. Serum amylase was higher in the ≥ 60 age group than in the < 18 age group. Lipase (LPS) in the ≥ 60 age group was higher than those of the other two groups (P < 0.05), and mean LPS did not differ significantly between the18-60 and < 18 age groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of alcoholic and hyperlipidemic pancreatitis is higher in middle-aged people. Elderly patients with AP are most prone to nausea, and the mortality rate is the highest. When young people have unexplained vomiting and bloating, AP should be suspected.