Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the risk of acute pancreatitis in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to patients without diabetes. This study also examined the risk of biliary disease (defined as occurrence of cholelithiasis, acute cholecystitis, or cholecystectomy), which is a major cause of pancreatitis.

Research Designs and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using a large, geographically diverse US healthcare claims database. Eligible patients (≥ 18 years) were enrolled for at least 12 continuous months (1999 to 2005), with no incident events of pancreatitis or biliary disease during that 1 year baseline period. ICD-9 codes and prescription data were used to identify patients with type 2 diabetes; ICD-9 codes were also used to identify cases of pancreatitis and biliary disease. Overall, 337,067 patients with type 2 diabetes were matched on age and gender with 337,067 patients without diabetes. Incidence rates of disease and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated per 100,000 person-years of exposure.

Results: The type 2 diabetes cohort was at 2·83-fold (95% CI 2.61, 3.06) greater risk of pancreatitis and 1.91-fold (95% CI 1.84, 1.99) greater risk of biliary disease compared to the non-diabetic cohort. Relative to patients of corresponding age without diabetes, younger type 2 diabetes patients had the highest risk of pancreatitis (<45 years: IRR 5.26, 95% CI 4.31, 6.42; ≥45 years: IRR 2.44-fold, 95% CI 2.23, 2.66).

Conclusions: These data suggest that patients with type 2 diabetes may be at increased risk of acute pancreatitis and biliary disease.