title: Acute pancreatitis: a prospective study on incidence, etiology, and outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prospective and population-based studies on the incidence of acute pancreatitis (AP) are lacking. Alcohol consumption has increased considerably in Iceland during the last decade. We aimed to determine the incidence, etiology, severity, and complications of AP and compare the results with a previous study on AP in Iceland.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective population-based study of patients diagnosed with AP at the National University Hospital of Iceland during 1 year (2010-2011). Information on symptoms, etiology, and complications was registered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 134 patients were diagnosed with AP, 78 men (58%), median age 57 years (interquartile range 42-71). Overall, 89/104 (86%) patients had their first attack of pancreatitis, yielding a crude incidence of 40/100 000 inhabitants/year. The major etiological groups were as follows: gallstones, 52 cases (42%); alcohol 29, (23%); postendoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography in 12 (9.5%); medications in eight (6.3%); and idiopathic in 15 (12%). Alcohol was more often the cause in men (25 vs. 4, P<0.05) but the incidence of gallstone-induced pancreatitis was similar in men and women (26 vs. 27). Seven patients had severe complications, three had pancreatic necrosis, two had pseudocysts, and one developed renal failure. Another patient developed acute respiratory distress syndrome and was admitted to the ICU. No patient died of AP during the study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of AP has not increased significantly in Iceland in the last decade. Alcohol-induced pancreatitis has not increased proportionally despite increased alcohol consumption in Iceland. In a population-based setting, the vast majority of AP is of mild severity.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care bDepartment of Surgery cDepartment of Gastroenterology, The National University Hospital of Iceland dFaculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland eDepartment of Surgery, Helsingborg Hospital, Helsingborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vidarsdottir
authors.forename: Pall H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Möller
authors.forename: Halla
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vidarsdottir
authors.forename: Hildur
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thorarinsdottir
authors.forename: Einar S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Björnsson
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010192:Pancreatic Pseudocyst / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D019512:Pancreatitis, Alcoholic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult