Pancreatitis risk factors: who is more likely to get it

What pancreatitis is

The pancreas is a large gland behind the stomach. It makes insulin and the digestive enzymes that help you digest food. Pancreatitis happens when those enzymes damage the pancreas, which causes inflammation (NIDDK).

• Acute pancreatitis starts suddenly and is short term. Most people get better, and it goes away in several days with treatment, although some have a severe form that needs a long hospital stay (NIDDK).
• Chronic pancreatitis lasts a long time. The pancreas does not heal; it gets worse over time and can be permanently damaged (NIDDK) (MedlinePlus).

In the United States there are about 275,000 hospital stays for acute pancreatitis each year and about 86,000 for chronic pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis has become more common, for reasons that are not clear (NIDDK).

Who is more likely to get pancreatitis

NIDDK lists these groups as more likely to get acute or chronic pancreatitis (NIDDK):

• Men, who are more likely to get it than women.
• African Americans, who have a higher risk.
• People with a family history of pancreatitis, or a personal or family history of gallstones.
• People with certain health conditions: diabetes, gallstones, high triglycerides, genetic disorders of the pancreas, certain autoimmune conditions and cystic fibrosis.
• People who have obesity, are heavy alcohol users or smoke.

Pancreatitis is rare in children, but the number of children with acute pancreatitis has grown (NIDDK).

What causes pancreatitis

The most common causes of both forms are gallstones, heavy alcohol use, genetic disorders of the pancreas and some medicines. Other causes include infections such as viruses or parasites, an injury to the abdomen, pancreatic cancer, a procedure called ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) and pancreas divisum (NIDDK).

• Acute: gallstones are the most common cause. A stone can get stuck in a bile or pancreatic duct as it passes, which inflames the pancreas (gallstone pancreatitis) (NIDDK). See gallstones risk factors.
• Chronic: heavy alcohol use and genetic disorders of the pancreas are the most common causes. Others include a blocked pancreatic duct, high levels of blood fats (lipids) and a high level of calcium in the blood (NIDDK). MedlinePlus also names cystic fibrosis and other inherited disorders, some medicines and autoimmune conditions (MedlinePlus).

In many cases doctors cannot find the cause; this is called idiopathic pancreatitis (NIDDK).

Symptoms

The main symptom of both forms is pain in the upper abdomen that may spread to the back (NIDDK).

• Acute: the pain can start slowly or suddenly, be mild or severe, and last several days. Other symptoms may include fever, nausea and vomiting, a fast heartbeat and a swollen or tender abdomen. People with acute pancreatitis usually look and feel seriously ill and need to see a doctor right away (NIDDK).
• Chronic: most people feel upper abdominal pain that may become constant, get worse after eating, or fade as the condition gets worse, and some have no pain at all. Other symptoms may include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, weight loss and greasy, foul-smelling stools (NIDDK).

Complications

Both forms can lead to blocked or narrowed bile or pancreatic ducts, pseudocysts, damage to the pancreas, and heart, lung or kidney failure, and can be fatal. Repeat episodes of acute pancreatitis may lead to chronic pancreatitis. Complications of chronic pancreatitis include long-lasting pain, trouble digesting food, malnutrition, diabetes, bone loss and pancreatic cancer, which is more likely in people with both diabetes and pancreatitis (NIDDK). See pancreatic cancer risk factors.

Common questions

Which risk factors can I change?

Heavy alcohol use, smoking and obesity are on the NIDDK list (NIDDK), and high triglycerides can be checked with a blood test (see triglyceride levels). For chronic pancreatitis, MedlinePlus says it is also important not to smoke or drink alcohol (MedlinePlus). Sex, family history and genetic disorders cannot be changed.

Does alcohol cause pancreatitis?

Heavy alcohol use is one of the most common causes of both acute and chronic pancreatitis, and the most common cause of chronic pancreatitis (NIDDK) (MedlinePlus). The AUDIT-C check is a short screen for risky drinking.

Can pancreatitis run in families?

Yes. A family history of pancreatitis or gallstones raises the risk, and genetic disorders of the pancreas are among the most common causes (NIDDK) (NIDDK).

How is it treated?

Treatment for either form is usually a few days in the hospital for IV fluids and pain medicine, with antibiotics for acute pancreatitis and nutritional support for chronic pancreatitis. People with chronic pancreatitis may later need to take enzymes and follow a special diet (MedlinePlus).

Is there a pancreatitis risk calculator?

No. The sources on this page do not offer a validated score for the general public, so we do not provide one.

Also see fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes risk factors and appendicitis risk factors.