The epidemiology of acute pancreatitis in the United States is largely unknown, …

• Abstract
• Background
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• References
• Figures
• Tables

Biology Articles » Medicine » Emergency Medicine » National study of United States emergency department visits for acute pancreatitis, 1993–2003 » Background

Background

- National study of United States emergency department visits for acute pancreatitis, 1993–2003

Acute pancreatitis is a relatively common condition, but the incidence throughout the Western world varies widely. For example, hospital admission rates of 1.5 cases per 10,000 in Southern England and 7.3 per 10,000 in Finland have been reported in various European studies. In addition, investigators have described varied demographic characteristics and treatment patterns for different European populations [1-4]. No European studies have specifically examined emergency department (ED) visit rates for acute pancreatitis. In the U.S., no national studies have described the epidemiology of acute pancreatitis from any perspective (i.e. hospital admission rates, ED visit rates, or visits to all healthcare facilities), or the initial evaluation and treatment of pancreatitis patients in U.S. EDs. This national study of U.S. ED visits over an 11-year period thus stands to provide the most complete epidemiologic picture to date of pancreatitis in the U.S., offering insight into recent trends in ED visits, the overall burden of the disease in the U.S., and the demographic characteristics of patients.