Indian J Gastroenterol. 2026 Jan 17. doi: 10.1007/s12664-025-01904-2. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recurrent acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis are disorders associated with significant morbidity. Despite increased awareness of quality-of-life impairment in these conditions, data comparing quality of life between chronic pancreatitis (CP) and recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) remains limited, particularly in Indian populations. This study aimed at assessing and comparing the quality of life in patients with CP and RAP compared to healthy controls.
METHODS: This prospective cross-sectional bicentric study enrolled patients from two tertiary care centers in India between 2019 and 2024. Quality of life was evaluated using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). Demographic characteristics, risk factors, complications and treatments were recorded for all participants. Statistical analysis included a comparison of quality-of-life domains across groups and a reliability assessment of the questionnaire.
RESULTS: The study comprised 216 participants: 54 CP patients (mean age 26.8 ± 9.4 years, 59.3% male), 54 RAP patients (28.4 ± 10.4 years, 79.6% male) and 108 age-matched healthy controls. Idiopathic etiology predominated in both groups (CP: 94.4%, RAP: 68.5%). CP patients demonstrated significantly lower body mass index (BMI) (20.2 ± 2.4 vs. 24.1 ± 4.5 kg/m2, p < 0.001) and higher diabetes prevalence (27.8% vs. 9.3%, p = 0.01) compared to RAP patients. Global health status was impaired in CP patients (47.1) compared to RAP patients (64.7) and controls (74.8) (p = 0.001). Emotional functioning showed the most pronounced difference (CP: 56.6, RAP: 75.4, controls: 82.9; p < 0.001). Symptom scales revealed higher burden in CP patients for fatigue, pain and nausea/vomiting. Reliability analysis confirmed strong internal consistency for both patient groups (Cronbach’s alpha: RAP = 0.745, 95% CI: 0.644-0.825; CP = 0.847, 95% CI: 0.785-0.895).
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate significant quality of life impairment in CP patients, particularly affecting emotional and physical functioning domains. The relatively preserved quality of life in recurrent acute pancreatitis patients suggests a critical window of opportunity for intervention before progression to chronic disease.
PMID:41546820 | DOI:10.1007/s12664-025-01904-2
