Determination of patient quality of life following severe acute pancreatitis.
BACKGROUND
Severe acute pancreatitis results in significant morbidity and mortality. Clinical experience suggests a significantly reduced quality of life for patients, but few studies exist to confirm this experience. We sought to objectively demonstrate patient quality of life after severe acute pancreatitis.


METHODS
Forty-two patients were assessed 24-36 months after an episode of severe acute pancreatitis. Patients completed the English Standard Short Form 36 survey (SF-36) and a questionnaire about pancreatic function to assess both their health-related quality of life and symptoms of pancreatic dysfunction.


RESULTS
Compared with the general Canadian population, survivors of severe acute pancreatitis had significantly reduced SF-36 scores. There is also a significant correlation between the Ranson score at presentation and the SF-36 Physical Composite Score at time of follow-up (rho = -0.47, p = 0.03). Seventy-six percent of patients had ongoing symptoms suggestive of pancreatic dysfunction. These included abdominal pain, diarrhea, unintentional weight loss, new onset of diabetes mellitus and the need for regular pancreatic enzyme supplementation.


CONCLUSIONS
Survivors of severe acute pancreatitis had a reduced quality of life compared with healthy controls. Higher Ranson scores at presentation may predict which patients are more likely to have poorer outcomes in the first few years of their recovery.
Hochman
David
D
Department of Surgery, University of Alberta Hospital, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton, AB. davehochman@hotmail.com
Louie
Brian
B
Bailey
Robert
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors