Guest guest Posted June 21, 2004 Report Share Posted June 21, 2004 Reported June 21, 2004 Alcohol Causes for Rising Pancreatitis Rates (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Rates of acute pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, have doubled in England over the past 30 years in younger age groups. Researchers say increasing alcohol consumption may be partly to blame. Death rates from acute pancreatitis in the first month after hospital admission were 30-times higher for drinkers than in the general population of the same age. Acute pancreatitis is mainly caused by alcohol abuse and gall stones. It produces a sudden attack of severe upper abdominal pain, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. An attack usually lasts about 48 hours. Researchers say pancreatitis has a poor prognosis overall. Death rates have not improved since the 1970s because no major innovations in treatment have been introduced, they conclude. However, acute pancreatitis is fairly uncommon. Researchers report rates tend to be higher in Scotland, Germany and the United States. During the study, more than 5,000 people were admitted to the hospital with acute pancreatitis in Oxford, England. An increase in the occurrence of gall stones may have also contributed to the rise, researchers note. This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/. SOURCE: British Medical Journal, 2004;328:1466-1469 Debbie/CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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