Long-term impact of acute pancreatitis on patients' quality of life: a multi-center prospective study in Japan.

BACKGROUND

Although acute pancreatitis often resolves, its long-term impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and social participation remains unclear. This study investigated the longitudinal changes in HRQoL and factors affecting incomplete recovery of social participation following acute pancreatitis.

METHODS

This multi-center, prospective cohort study included patients aged ≥ 18 years who were hospitalized with acute pancreatitis at 20 hospitals across Japan between April 2018 and March 2024. Patients were consecutively enrolled, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months. We evaluated the severity of acute pancreatitis, demographic factors, and HRQoL parameters, including the physical component score (PCS) from the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey version 2 and self-rated health (SRH), as well as social participation status.

RESULTS

Among 284 enrolled patients, 226 were included in the primary endpoint analysis. At 3 months, 49 patients (21.7%) had incomplete recovery of social participation. Among them, 73.5% had a PCS score of less than 45, when compared with 24.9% among those with complete recovery of social participation (p < 0.01). Logistic regression analyses indicated that female sex, higher acute physiologic assessment and chronic health evaluation II score on admission, and worsened SRH were associated with incomplete recovery of social participation at 3 months. At 12 months, incomplete recovery of social participation occurred in 17.5% of patients, which was associated with younger age and worsened mental health.

CONCLUSION

These findings support the need for phase-specific strategies: early intervention focused on physical recovery and later support targeting psychosocial recovery and social participation.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: UMIN000033041.