COMPARISON OF DRINKING PATTERNS IN ALCOHOLIC CHRONIC PANCREATITIS AND ALCOHOLIC LIVER CIRRHOSIS PATIENTS IN INDIA

Abstract

Introduction: Alcoholism has become widespread in India. The prevalence of alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (ACP) and alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) has remarkably risen in recent years. Aims: To compare the drinking patterns between ACP and ALC patients in Kerala state in India. Materials and Methods: A prospective evaluation of 80 patients with ACP and 119 ALC patients was conducted over a 4 year period. Detailed clinical work up of both groups and recording of alcohol and smoking history by a medical social worker through multiple interviews with patients and relatives, were done. Results: All patients were males, as females, in general, do not drink in India. The age of ACP patients was 44.53 ± 10.1 while that of ALC was 52.2 ± 9.07 years (p < 0.001). The age of starting alcohol consumption was similar in ACP and ALC (25.08 ± 7.19 and 23.60 ± 6.06 years, p > 0.05). The daily alcohol intake and duration of drinking were significantly higher in ALC (190.53 ± 141.94 g/day, 27.6 ± 9.91 years) than in ACP (141.16 ± 58.96 g/day, 17.41 ± 9.91 years) (p < 0.001). Majority of patients in both groups consumed hard liquor (ACP 97.5% and ALC 99.2%; p value > 0.05). Habitual drinking was more common in the ALC group (90%) than in the ACP group (72%) (p < 0.05). Eighty percent of the ALC group and 65% of ACP were heavy smokers (p < 0.05). The majority of both ACP and ALC patients belonged to the lower and middle socio-economic and educational strata. Conclusion: ACP occurred about eight years earlier than ALD, even though ALC patients drank more alcohol per day and for longer periods than ACP patients. Heavy smoking was common in both the groups, but much more so in the ALC.