Pancreatitis in a native American Indian population.
We have studied pancreatitis in a population of Southwestern American Indians where gallstones are frequent, alcohol consumption is presumably high, but where smoking is an uncommon habit. Over a 5-year period, 131 cases of pancreatitis (65 males, 66 females) were observed: 66 (50%) were thought to be biliary pancreatitis, 54 cases (41%) alcoholic pancreatitis, and 5 cases (4%) were caused by injuries. In 6 cases (5%) no definite cause was found. Smoking appeared to be increased in male subjects with alcoholic pancreatitis when compared to subjects with alcoholic liver cirrhosis--a group with similar drinking habits. (Adjusted odds ratio = 12.5, p = 0.008). No such relationship was observed for females. Our findings suggest that in this population smoking may be an additional important risk factor for male subjects with alcoholic pancreatitis.
Department of Surgery and Community and Preventive Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla 10595.
A B
AB
Lowenfels
F L
FL
Zwemer
S
S
Jhangiani
C S
CS
Pitchumoni
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001130:Arizona; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects