Outcomes of acute pancreatitis in elderly are comparable to those in adults in India: A propensity score-matched analysis.

Abstract

Background and objectives: The ageing population is increasing in India and there is hardly any information on outcomes of acute pancreatitis (AP) in the elderly in India. Hence we studied the comprehensive clinical characteristics and outcomes of AP in elderly patients.

Methods: This study included patients admitted with AP to a tertiary care centre from October 2018 to October 2022. Patients with the first episode of AP presenting within 14 days of disease onset were eligible for inclusion. The elderly population was defined as age ≥ 60 years. Recurrent AP, chronic pancreatitis and AP presenting after 14 days of disease onset were excluded. Propensity score matching was performed based on etiology and severity to compare elderly and non-elderly groups. Primary outcome was serious adverse outcome (SAO: in-hospital mortality or discharge in critical state). Secondary outcomes included organ failures, local complications, necrosis, mesenteric vascular thrombosis (MVT), length of hospital stay, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and infections.

Results: Of 630 eligible patients, 120 were > 60 years of age. Among the elderly, 72 (60%) were males. The median age was 68 (IQR 63-74) years. The most common etiology was biliary 76 (63.3%) followed by idiopathic 25 (20.8%) and alcohol eight (6.7%). Mild AP was seen in 72 (60%), while 21 (17.5%) had moderately severe and 27 (22.5%) had severe AP. Organ failures occurred in 27.5%, necrotizing pancreatitis in 15.2%, local complications in 27.6% and MVT in 3.3%. Infections affected 28.3%. Median hospital stay was four days (IQR 1-28), with 12.5% requiring ICU admission. SAO occurred in 8.3% of elderly patients, comparable to 11.4% in the non-elderly (p = 0.334). Bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis (BISAP) score (adjusted OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.05-6.96, p = 0.04) and Charlson comorbidity index (without age) (adjusted OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.07-3.51, p = 0.03) independently predicted SAO in the elderly.

Conclusion: The outcomes of AP in the elderly in India are similar to patients < 60 years. Charlson comorbidity index and BISAP score predicted serious adverse outcomes in the elderly.