title: Pattern of acute pancreatitis in a tertiary care center in oman.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the epidemiology of acute pancreatitis in a tertiary care center in Oman.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study evaluated all adults (>18 yrs) who presented with first attack of acute pancreatitis to SQUH from 1(st) of January 2006 to 31(st) of December 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred seventy-four patients were found. The mean age of the cohort was 44 ± 11 years. 54% (n=95) were male and 45% (n=79) were female. Majority of the cases were mild (n=131) compared to moderate (n=29) and severe (n=14). Sixty six percent (n=116) of the cases were secondary to alcohol and biliary tract diseases. Alcoholic pancreatitis occurred in 53% of the males whereas biliary pancreatitis occurred in 51% of the females. Pancreatitis recurred in 40% (n=71) of the cases, especially in alcoholic pancreatitis. 56 patients (32%) had complications, especially in the severe cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data about acute pancreatitis in Oman was similar to the Western countries. Pancreatitis occurred in males more than females. Alcoholic pancreatitis was more common in males, whereas biliary pancreatitis was more common in females. Alcoholic pancreatitis re-occurred in nearly half of the cases. Severe cases were associated with more complications and recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Senior Resident in Internal Medicine, SQUH P.O.Box 35, P.C 123 Alkhod, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Arif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albulushi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Aftab
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siddiqi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Issa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alqarshoubi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Moza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aladawi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Ghalib
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alkhadhouri
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Hatem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Farhan
keywords: Acute Pancreatitis; Oman