The Influence of Obesity on Acute Pancreatitis Hospitalizations: Does Body Mass Index Matter?

Abstract

To identify the influence of body mass index (BMI) on Acute Pancreatitis (AP) hospitalizations in the United States (US). The National Inpatient Sample was utilized to identify normal weight, overweight and obese AP hospitalizations in the US from 2016-2019 based on BMI. Hospitalization characteristics and outcomes were compared. Between 2016-2019, there were 314,215 (74.7%) obese, 27,005 (6.4%) overweight and 79,380 (18.9%) normal weight AP hospitalizations. Obese AP hospitalizations were younger (51.5 vs 56.5 years, p < 0.0001) compared to the normal weight cohort. However, normal weight AP hospitalizations had a higher proportion of Blacks and Asians compared to the obese subgroup. We also noted a higher all-cause inpatient mortality for normal weight AP hospitalizations (3.4% vs 2.8% vs 1.8%, p < 0.0001) compared to the overweight and obese cohorts, respectively. Furthermore, normal weight AP hospitalizations had a higher proportion of patients with pancreatic pseudocyst formation and pancreatic necrosis compared to the overweight and obese cohorts. The mean length of stay (5.8 vs 8.2 days, p < 0.0001) and mean total healthcare costs ($66,742 vs $82,319, p < 0.0001) were lower for obese compared to normal weight AP hospitalizations. Normal weight AP hospitalizations had higher inpatient mortality and complications compared to obese hospitalizations.