Global burden of acute pancreatitis attributable to high alcohol intake

Although recent studies have examined alcohol-attributable pancreatitis (AAP), the roles of population growth, ageing, and social demographic index (SDI) disparities remain inadequately quantified. A study evaluated the global, regional, and national burden of alcohol-related acute pancreatitis from 1990 to 2021, analysing trends across socioeconomic and demographic groups to inform policy development. Data were sourced from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study. Researchers analysed deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR), and age-standardised DALY rate (ASDR). Population attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated.
Between 1990 and 2021, global DALYs from alcohol-attributable pancreatitis increased from 401,671.32 to 699,335.04, while age-standardised rates showed slight declines (ASDR: 8.88 to 8.22; ASMR: 0.24 to 0.22 per 100,000). Mortality cases nearly doubled (9,971.79 to 18,749.03), though overall trends in ASDR (AAPC = − 0.21%) and ASMR (AAPC = − 0.20%) were not significant. The analysis identified post-2005 declines in ASDR and post-2009 declines in ASMR, following earlier increases. Marked gender disparities were observed: in 2021, males had 9.33-fold higher DALY rates and 7.58-fold higher mortality than females. Female rates declined steadily (ASDR AAPC=-1.27%; ASMR AAPC = − 1.36%), whereas male rates remained stable. Regionally, Eastern Europe showed the highest burden (ASDR: 64.03; ASMR: 1.35) and the fastest growth (ASDR AAPC = 2.00%), while North Africa and the Middle East had the lowest burden (ASDR: 0.36). High-middle SDI regions peaked in ASDR (14.67), whereas high-SDI regions declined consistently (AAPC = − 0.90%). PAFs were highest in high-SDI regions (25.05% for ASDR) and lowest in the low-SDI areas (10.08%). Decomposition analysis attributed DALY increases mainly to population growth (+ 88.85%) and ageing (+ 25.26%), partly offset by epidemiological improvements (− 14.11%). Projections indicate persistent gender and SDI disparities, with younger males in middle- and low-SDI regions facing increasing risks.
The study authors state that although global age-standardised rates of AAP have remained stable, the total number of deaths and DALYs have increased significantly due to demographic changes, with notable gender and regional differences. The disproportionate impact on males, younger adults, and Eastern Europe highlights the importance of targeted prevention. Enhancing alcohol control in low- and middle-SDI countries and promoting early detection in high-risk groups are crucial to lessen the preventable burden of AAP.
Source: Liu, W., Yan, T., Lin, J. et al. (2025) Global burden of acute pancreatitis attributable to high alcohol intake from 1990 to 2021: findings and prevention potential based on GBD 2021. BMC Gastroenterology, 25, 716.