Alcoholic chronic pancreatitis and liver cirrhosis: coincidence and differences in lifestyle.
OBJECTIVE
Alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (ACP) and liver cirrhosis (ALC) are sequels of excessive alcohol intake. They develop in a minority of long-term alcohol consumers. Their concomitant occurrence is rare and the organ selection remains unknown. The aim of study was to compare patients with ACP and ALC with respect to their lifestyle.


METHODS
Sixty-six patients with ACP and 80 with ALC were personally interviewed about their lifestyle, drinking, and eating habits.


RESULTS
The groups of ACP (60 males, 6 females) and ALC (64 males, 16 females) did not differ in the amount of alcohol intake (58 g/day vs. 64 g/day). Significantly more patients with ACP reported first alcohol contact before the age of 15 (28.5% vs. 88%; p=0.03). ACP patients had the highest alcohol intake between 20 and 30 years of age (43.6% vs. 20.3%; p<0.01), were more likely to smoke (92.4% vs. 78.7%; p=0.02) and more likely to start smoking before the age of 15 (16.7% vs. 3.7%; p=0.04). Patients with ACP had a lower level of education (p<0.01). We did not observe significant differences between the dietary habits of the groups. The incidence of cirrhosis in ACP patients was 16.7%. The incidence of pancreatitis in the ACL group was 2.5%.


CONCLUSIONS
The socio-behavioral factors affecting development of either ACP or ALC differed. ACP was associated with an early onset of drinking and smoking, highest alcohol intake at a young age, and a lower level of education. Simultaneous occurrence was unusual. Supported by grant IGAMZ NS/10527-3.
Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Videnska 1958/9, 140 21 Prague 4, Czech Republic. julius.spicak@ikem.cz
Julius
J
Spicak
Adela
A
Pulkertova
Ivana
I
Kralova-Lesna
Pavel
P
Suchanek
Martina
M
Vitaskova
Vera
V
Adamkova
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004522:Educational Status; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019512:Pancreatitis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology
D000431:Ethanol