Increasing Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression Disorders After Diagnosis of Chronic Pancreatitis: A 5-Year Population-Based Study

Objectives: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is often associated with poor quality of life. Only a few small associative studies have reported the prevalence of mood disorders in CP. Using a large database, we sought to describe the epidemiology and risk association of anxiety and depression in CP and evaluate their outcomes.

Methods: A multicenter database (Explorys), an aggregate of electronic health record data from 26 US healthcare systems, was surveyed. A cohort of patients with a diagnosis of CP between 2014 and 2019 was identified. Within this cohort, rates of anxiety and depression were calculated. Demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes were described.

Results: Of the 30,276,810 individuals in the database (2014-2019), 67,260 patients had a CP diagnosis (0.22%). When compared with patients with no history of CP, patients with CP were more likely to develop anxiety (odds ratio, 6.94; 95% confidence interval, 6.85-7.04) and depression (odds ratio, 5.09; 95% confidence interval, 5.01-5.17). Chronic pancreatitis patients with depression had an increased risk of suicidal ideation compared with controls.

Conclusions: Patients with CP are at a higher risk of developing anxiety and depression compared with those without CP, with overall worse outcomes. Clinicians should screen CP patients and make appropriate referral to psychiatry when indicated.