The clinical traits of acute pancreatitis in aging patients: a retrospective analysis of 473 cases

Abstract Background The incidence of acute pancreatitis in aging patients has increasing in recent years. Controversial results about clinical outcomes of acute pancreatitis in aging patients were reported in different literature. The aim of our study was to compare the clinical outcomes of AP in aging patients between 60-79 years old and over 80 years old. Methods 80 patients aged ≥ 80 years old(oldest group) were compared to 393 patients aged 60 to 79 years old(older group). The clinical course, biochemical, radiological data were enrolled. The primary endpoint was to compare the death rate, intensive care unit admission rate and in-hospital length of stay(LOS). The secondary endpoint was operative treatment and the complications of AP. Results Abdominal symptom of abdominal pain (61.3% vs 46.3%, P=0.013) was less in oldest group, while diarrhea(18.3% vs 30.0%, P=0.018), jaundice(8.9% vs 17.5%, P=0.021), dyspnea(11.5% vs 26.3%, P=0.001) were more obvious in older group than oldest group. A higher death rate (8.9% vs 16.3%, P = 0.003) and longer hospital length of stay (11.51±10.19 vs 15.26±11.04, P = 0.001) were found in aging patients aged ≥80 years old. Mean BMI was lower in oldest group compared to older group(22.36±2.89 vs 21.07±3.18, P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified aged over 80 years(OR 3.299, 95%CI 1.316-8.269, P=0.011) and organ failure(P<0.05) as independent risk factors of mortality. More severe of AP(OR 11.722, 95%CI 4.780-28.764, P=0.001), abdominal pain(OR 1.906, 95%CI 1.052-3.453, P=0.033) and organ failure(P<0.05) were recognized as influencing intensive care unit rate. Aging patients aged over 80 years old(OR 0.149, 95%CI 2.027-6.268, P=0.001), more severe of AP(OR 0.218, 95%CI 1.567-4.322, P=0.001), female(OR 0.093, 95%CI 0.336-3.542, P=0.018), Jaundice(OR 0.080, 95%CI 0.146-5.324, P=0.038), operative treatment(P<0.05) and organ failure(P<0.05) were the risk factors for LOS.