Obstructive sleep apnoea is independently associated with non-alcoholic fatty pancreatic disease.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty pancreatic disease (NAFPD) in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and analysed the correlation between them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent polysomnography and modified abdominal ultrasound examinations were continuously enrolled and divided into OSA and control groups. The OSA group was further divided into NAFPD and non-NAFPD groups. Differences in various indicators were compared. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors influencing NAFPD. RESULTS: A total of 210 participants were included in the study, including 178 in the OSA group and 32 in the control group. The prevalence of NAFPD, weight, body mass index (BMI), and other indicators were significantly higher in the OSA group than that in the control group (p < 0.05). The above indices, prevalence of hypertension and metabolic associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and severity of sleep apnoea were higher in the NAFPD group than that in the non-NAFPD group (p < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed a 4.4% increased risk of NAFPD for each unit increase in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) after adjusting for BMI and hypertension. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of NAFPD was higher in the OSA group than that in the control group, and chronic intermittent hypoxia was strongly associated with pancreatic fat infiltration; AHI, BMI, and hypertension were independent risk factors for NAFPD. The NAFPD group had a higher prevalence of obesity and some other diseases.

This study confirms that the modified ultrasound evaluation method can serve as an effective tool for screening pancreatic fat infiltration in OSA patients, aiding in the early identification of the risk of ectopic lipid deposition and metabolic excess.

Prevalence of Pancreatic Steatosis and Its Associated Factors in Turkey: A Nation-Wide Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS:  Pancreatic steatosis (PS) is a pathology associated with metabolic syndrome (MS), endocrin and exocrine disfunctions of the pancreas, and fatty liver. The data on the frequency of PS are very limited. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of PS detected by transabdominal ultrasonography (TAU) in gastroenterology clinics located in different geographical regions of Turkey and the factors associated with it. MATERIALS AND METHODS:  Volunteers were evaluated by TAU for PS and hepatosteatosis (HS), and its degree. Pancreatic stiffness was evaluated by ultrasonographic shear wave elastography (SWE). All demographic, physical, and biochemical parametres were measured. RESULTS:  A total of 1700 volunteers from 14 centers throughout Turkey were included in the study. Mean age was 48.03 ± 20.86 years (56.9% female). Prevalance of PS was detected in 68.9%. In the PS group, age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid levels, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, MS frequency, and pancreatic SWE score were increasing, and fecal elastase level was decreasing in correlation with the degree of PS. The frequency of HS was 55.5%. Hepatosteatosis [odds ratio (OR): 9.472], increased age (OR: 1.02), and BMI (OR: 1.089) were independent risk factors for the occurrence of PS. Lean-PS rate was 11.8%. The lean-PS group was predominantly female and younger than non-lean PS. Also it has lower blood pressure, FBG, liver enzymes, lipid levels, and HS rates. CONCLUSION:  The frequency of PS was found 68.9% in Turkey. Its relationship was determined with age, BMI, HS, MS (and its components), pancreatic stiffness, and fecal elastase level.

Air pollutants and the risk of incident hepatobiliary diseases: A large prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank.

The association between air pollutants and hepatobiliary pancreatic diseases remains inconclusive. This study analyzed up to 247,091 participants of White European ancestry (aged 37 to 73 years at recruitment) from the UK Biobank, a large-scale prospective cohort with open access. An air pollution score was utilized to assess the combined effect of PM2.5, PM2.5-10, PM10, NO2, and NOX on total hepatobiliary pancreatic diseases, liver diseases, cholecyst diseases, and pancreatic diseases. Cox proportional hazard models were employed to evaluate the relationships between air pollutants and the incidence of these diseases. Restricted cubic spline regressions were used to examine the dose-response association between air pollutants and the risk of hepatobiliary pancreatic diseases. We identified 4865 cases of total hepatobiliary pancreatic diseases, over a median follow-up of 10.86 years. The air pollution scores were moderately associated with increased liver disease risk (HR = 1.009, 95 % CI: 1.004, 1.014), but not with cholecyst and pancreatic diseases. Among the individual air pollutants, PM2.5 (HR = 1.069, 95 % CI: 1.025, 1.115) and PM10 (HR = 1.036, 95 % CI: 1.011, 1.061) significantly increased liver disease risk. Males showed a higher risk of liver diseases with PM2.5 (HR = 1.075, 95 % CI: 1.015, 1.139). Additionally, individuals with overweight (HR = 1.125, 95 % CI: 1.052, 1.203), age ≥ 60 and ≤73 (HR = 1.098, 95 % CI: 1.028, 1.172), and alcohol intake ≥ 14 unit/week (HR = 1.078, 95 % CI: 1.006, 1.155) had a higher risk of developing liver diseases at high expose to PM2.5. This study suggests that prolonged exposure to ambient air pollutants may elevate the risk of liver diseases.

Aetiological Spectrum of Pancreaticobiliary Diseases in Adult Nigerians on Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography.

BACKGROUND: Imaging is vital for assessing pancreaticobiliary diseases. AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the spectrum and pattern of pancreaticobiliary diseases in adult Nigerians using magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). METHODS: This was a retrospective, descriptive cross-sectional study. The electronic radiological records of 110 adult Nigerians who had undergone MRCP were reviewed. The MRCP images were evaluated for bile duct dilatation, intraluminal filling defects, strictures, calculi, and other abnormalities. RESULTS: There were 45 males (40.9%) and 65 females (59.1%) aged 18-83 years, with a mean age of 51.93 ± 15.22 years. Jaundice (59.1%) and right hypochondrial pain (31.8%) were the most common presenting complaints. Gallstones (32.7%), common bile duct strictures (15.5%), choledocholithiasis (11.8%), pancreatic head carcinoma (10.9%), and gallbladder carcinoma (2.7%) were the most frequent abnormalities. There was biliary obstruction in 56.4% of participants, mostly at the distal and proximal common bile duct. Other findings include hepatomegaly (23.6%), hepatic cysts (6.4%), hepatic steatosis (0.9%), duodenal wall thickening (1.8%), and ascites (5.5%). MRCP was normal in 25 (22.7%) participants. CONCLUSION: Gallstones were the predominant pathology of the various pancreaticobiliary diseases, while Pancreatic head and gallbladder carcinoma were the most common malignant diseases.

Public Fear of Pancreatic Diseases: Causes and Clinical Outcomes at a Single Korean Center.

Background/Aims: The public fear of pancreatic diseases including pancreatic cancer (PC) appears to be growing. The aims of this study were to evaluate the causes of fear of pancreatic diseases and assess clinical outcomes of such individuals. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 249 individuals who visited the Pancreatobiliary Diseases Center at Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital due to the fear of pancreatic diseases between January 2019 and August 2021. Those referred from other departments or external medical facilities were excluded. Collected data included demographic details, comorbidities, causes of fear of pancreatic diseases, and the presence of pancreatic lesions in imaging studies. Results: The median age was 55 years (range, 22 to 82 years). One hundred eleven subjects (44.6%) were male. The causes of fear of pancreatic diseases were abdominal pain (n=144, 57.8%), back pain (n=114, 45.8%), body weight change (n=35, 14.1%), family history of pancreatic diseases (n=32, 12.9%), and others (n=39, 15.7%). Within the group with family history of pancreatic diseases, 25 subjects had a first-degree relative with PC. Of the 200 subjects who underwent imaging, there was no evidence of pancreatic diseases in 182 (91.0%). Pancreatic lesions identified were cystic lesions (n=15, 7.5%), non-specific calcification (n=1, 0.5%), lipoma (n=1, 0.5%), and solid tumor (n=1, 0.5%), later diagnosed as unresectable PC. Conclusions: Abdominal pain and back pain were the major causes of fear of pancreatic diseases. The prevalence of PC among those who underwent imaging was 0.5%. Such characteristics should be considered when consulting individuals with fear of pancreatic diseases.

Associations of Intrapancreatic Fat Deposition With Incident Diseases of the Exocrine and Endocrine Pancreas: A UK Biobank Prospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: To investigate whether increased intrapancreatic fat deposition (IPFD) heightens the risk of diseases of the exocrine and endocrine pancreas. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted using data from the UK Biobank. IPFD was quantified using MRI and a deep learning-based framework called nnUNet. The prevalence of fatty change of the pancreas (FP) was determined using sex- and age-specific thresholds. Associations between IPFD and pancreatic diseases were assessed with multivariate Cox-proportional hazard model adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index, smoking and drinking status, central obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, liver fat content, and spleen fat content. RESULTS: Of the 42,599 participants included in the analysis, the prevalence of FP was 17.86%. Elevated IPFD levels were associated with an increased risk of acute pancreatitis (hazard ratio [HR] per 1 quintile change 1.513, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.179-1.941), pancreatic cancer (HR per 1 quintile change 1.365, 95% CI 1.058-1.762) and diabetes mellitus (HR per 1 quintile change 1.221, 95% CI 1.132-1.318). FP was also associated with a higher risk of acute pancreatitis (HR 3.982, 95% CI 2.192-7.234), pancreatic cancer (HR 1.976, 95% CI 1.054-3.704), and diabetes mellitus (HR 1.337, 95% CI 1.122-1.593, P = 0.001). DISCUSSION: FP is a common pancreatic disorder. Fat in the pancreas is an independent risk factor for diseases of both the exocrine pancreas and endocrine pancreas.

Changes in characteristics of gastroenterology center inpatients in Japan because of rapidly aging society.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Rapidly aging societies have become a major issue worldwide including Japan. This study aimed to elucidate relative changes in the characteristics of inpatients in Japan related to this issue. METHODS: A total of 23 835 Japanese inpatients treated from 2010 to 2021 were enrolled (2010-2013, period I; 2014-2017, period II; 2018-2021, period III). Changes in clinical features were retrospectively analyzed based on ICD-10 diagnosis data. RESULTS: The percentage of patients aged over 75 years increased over time (period I, 38.0%; II, 39.5%, III, 41.4%). Emergency admissions comprised 27.5% of all in period I, which increased to 43.2% in period II and again to 44.5% in period III (P < 0.001). In period I, gastrointestinal disease, liver disease, pancreatic-biliary disease, and other disease types were noted in 47.4%, 29.5%, 19.2%, and 3.9%, respectively, while those values were 44.0%, 18.0%, 33.9%, and 4.1%, respectively, in period III (P < 0.001). The frequency of liver disease decreased by approximately 0.6-fold from periods I to III, while that of biliary-pancreatic disease increased by approximately 1.8-fold during that time. Both percentage and actual numbers of patients with biliary-pancreatic disease increased during the examined periods. Analysis of changes in the proportion of organs affected by malignancy during periods I, II, and III showed a marked increase in cases of biliary-pancreatic malignancy (11.6%, 19.5%, 26.6%, respectively) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In association with the rapidly aging Japanese society, there has been an increasing frequency of biliary-pancreatic disease cases requiring hospitalization for treatment in the west Japan region of Shikoku.

Exploring the clinical characteristics and prevalence of the annular pancreas: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The annular pancreas (AP) is a rare gastrointestinal congenital malformation, in which malrotation of the pancreatic ventral bud in the seventh week of embryonic development manifests in a partial or complete ring of tissue around the second part of the duodenum. METHODS: The main online medical databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley online library, Web of Science, and EBSCO discovery service were used to gather all relevant studies on the AP. RESULTS: A total of 12,729,118 patients were analyzed in relation to the prevalence of AP. The pooled prevalence of AP was 0.0045% (95% CI: 0.0021%-0.0077%). The most frequent comorbidity in adults and children was duodenal obstruction, with a pooled prevalence of 24.04% and 52.58%, respectively (95% CI: 6.86%-46.48% and 35.56%-69.31%, respectively). The most frequent operation in adult patients with AP was duodenojejunostomy, with pooled prevalence established at 3.62% (95% CI: 0.00%-10.74%). CONCLUSION: The diagnostic complexity of AP is accentuated by its nonspecific clinical symptoms, making accurate identification reliant on imaging studies. Therefore, having a thorough knowledge of the clinical characteristics of the AP and its associated anomalies becomes paramount when faced with this rare congenital condition.

Hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism are associated with fatty pancreas (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Pancreas Disease).

OBJECTIVES: Increasing visceral fat deposition with raised prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome is associated with many adverse conditions, especially cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Although there are many studies that investigate hepatic steatosis in hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism, to the best of our knowledge, there is no study investigating its relationship with pancreatic steatosis. In the present study, the purpose was to investigate this relationship. METHODS: Physical and biochemical characteristics of 30 hypothyroid, 30 subclinical hypothyroid, and 30 euthyroid volunteers were recorded in this cross-sectional study. Liver and pancreatic steatosis were evaluated with ultrasonography. RESULTS: It was found that pancreatic steatosis was increased in hypothyroid and subclinical groups when compared to the control group, and hepatic steatosis was increased in the subclinical group when compared to the control group (steatosis; p = 0.002, p = 0.004, p = 0.001, p = 0.002, p = 0.002, p = 0.004). Pancreatic steatosis was positively correlated with age, hepatic steatosis, height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, hemoglobin, Insulin, alanine aminotransferase, Triglyceride, Creatinine, and gamma-glutamyltransferase and was negatively correlated with total cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of pancreatic steatosis was found to be increased in hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism when compared with the euthyroid control group.

Bidirectional association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and fatty pancreas: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence suggests a potential relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and fatty pancreas, as both conditions are associated with fat deposition in the liver and pancreas, respectively. The meta-analysis aimed to investigate the bidirectional association between NAFLD and fatty pancreas, as well as their respective effects on disease severity. METHODS: A systematic search of the EMBASE and MEDLINE databases, from inception to August 2022, was conducted to identify observational studies examining the association between NAFLD and fatty pancreas, as well as their impact on disease severity. The pooled odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Our analysis included 26 case-control or cross-sectional studies, comprising 67,803 participants. We observed a significant association between NAFLD and an increased odds of having fatty pancreas (OR, 6.18; 95% CI, 4.49-8.51; I2 = 92%). Similarly, fatty pancreas was significantly associated with an increased odds of having NAFLD (OR, 9.56; 95% CI, 5.09-17.95; I2 = 83%). Furthermore, the presence of fatty pancreas was associated with a 1.75-fold increased risk of severe NAFLD based on ultrasonographic classification (95% CI, 1.46-2.10; I2 = 0%). Among NAFLD patients, the coexistence of fatty pancreas was associated with a trend towards increased odds of having non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (OR, 3.52; 95% CI, 0.65-18.93; I2 = 82%) and advanced fibrosis (OR, 2.47; 95% CI, 0.52-11.80; I2 = 76%). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis discloses a bidirectional association between NAFLD and fatty pancreas, emphasizing the importance of understanding the intricate relationship between these two conditions.

Increased Incidence of Pancreatic Steatosis Detected Using Computed Tomography at Initial Diagnosis of Coronavirus Disease 2019.

BACKGROUND: It is known that hepatic steatosis, diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome are poor prognostic criteria for coronavirus disease 2019. Closely associated with these factors, pancreatic steatosis has yet to be clarified regarding its incidence in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 and its effect on prognosis. This study aimed to compare the incidence of pancreatic steatosis detected in non-contrast chest computed tomography examinations of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia at the time of diagnosis with that of the general population. METHODS: In the present retrospective study, which included 399 patients, densities of 5 different regions of the pancreas and 4 different regions of the spleen were measured, and the mean value of the measured densities was obtained. The difference between the mean pancreatic attenuation and splenic attenuation was defined as pancreatic steatosis if pancreatic attenuation-splenic attenuation ≤-5. RESULTS: The median pancreatic density in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 was significantly lower than in those who tested negative (P = .034). In patients who were coronavirus disease 2019 positive, the incidence of pancreatic steatosis was statistically significantly higher (54.3% vs. 43.0%, P = .031). CONCLUSIONS: According to the non-contrast chest computed tomography examination of the patients with coronavirus disease 2019 performed at the time of admission, the incidence of pancreatic steatosis was higher than that of the normal population of a similar age group. Given that patients with pancreatic steatosis and the accompanying metabolic syndrome are more prone to inflammation, the findings suggest that these patients underwent more chest computed tomography examinations at the time of diagnosis. Therefore, pancreatic steatosis may be a poor prognostic factor in coronavirus disease 2019.

Pancreatic steatosis: A frequent finding in a Chilean population.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Pancreatic steatosis is an incidental radiologic finding in asymptomatic patients, and its clinical importance is unclear. PRIMARY AIM: to study the prevalence of pancreatic steatosis (PS) in consecutive patients registered at our hospital, that underwent computed axial tomography (CAT) scanning of the abdomen and pelvis, excluding known pancreatic diseases. Secondary aim: to review the association of PS with the demographic and clinical data of the patients, as well as with hepatic steatosis (HS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational study was conducted on adult patients that had CAT scans of the abdomen and pelvis. DEFINITIONS: a) tissue density was measured in Hounsfield units (HU) in five 1 cm2 areas of the pancreas, three areas of the spleen, and in segments VI and VII of the liver; b) fatty pancreas: a difference < -10 HU between the mean pancreas and mean spleen densities; and c) fatty liver: density < 40 HU. We registered the epidemiologic and laboratory data of the patients. The association of those factors with the presence of PS was analyzed using SPSS version 24.0 software, and statistical significance was set at a p < 0.05. RESULTS: Of the 203 patients, PS was found in 61 (30%). The patients with PS were significantly older and had a higher body mass index. We found no significant association with the rest of the parameters studied, nor with HS (55 patients). None of the patients had symptoms attributable to a disease of the exocrine pancreas. CONCLUSIONS: Fatty infiltration of the pancreas is a frequent finding in CAT scans, and its clinical importance is unclear. Aging of the population and the increase in obesity underline the need for future studies on PS.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Pancreas Disease: The Unsung Disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty pancreas disease (NAFPD) is a relatively new and emerging disease that is increasingly diagnosed yearly, like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It is associated especially with metabolic syndrome and obesity. As awareness of pancreatic steatosis and its clinical implications increase, it is diagnosed more frequently. The researchers have explained the clinical importance of NAFPD and the diseases it causes, such as pancreatitis, pancreatic insufficiency, and pancreatic cancer. Although the definitive treatment is not yet established, the primary treatment approach is weight loss since NAFPD is associated with metabolic syndrome as well as obesity. Although pharmacological agents, such as oral hypoglycemic agents, have been investigated in animal experiments, studies on humans have not been conducted. Since the research on NAFPD is still insufficient, it is a subject that needs to be investigated, and further studies are needed to explore its pathophysiology, clinical impact, and its management.

[Lipid accumulation in the pancreas: clinical significance of NAFPD (non-alcoholic fatty pancreas disease)] / A nem alkoholos hasnyálmirigy-elzsírosodás klinikai jelentosége

Pancreatic lipid accumulation - which is known as NAFPD (non-alcoholic fatty pancreas disease) - has gained an increasing attention in the last couple of years. Previously, this alteration was mentioned using different names. Undoubtedly, the term of NAFPD is still rarely used in the Hungarian scientific literature, even the proper translation should be considered difficult. Pancreatic lipid accumulation is a clinical manifestation of ectopic occurrence of adipose tissue. NAFPD can be diagnosed by different imaging modalities. Although proper quantification of pancreatic lipid accumulation is challenging, ultrasonography and computed tomography are used in clinical practice. The prevalence of NAFPD was about 30-35% in different adult populations but a relatively higher frequency might also be observed in children and adolescents with obesity. NAFPD may influence both endocrine and exocrine functions of the pancreas. Clinical studies documented a close correlation between NAFPD and type 2 diabetes/metabolic syndrome. Local consequences of pancreatic lipid accumulation are less recognized but clinical observations suggested that NAFPD might play a role in the development of acute and chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and pancreatic exocrine dysfunction. Therapeutically, weight loss in patients with obesity, due to life-style modification, pharmacological intervention or bariatric surgery, may reduce pancreatic lipid accumulation. Importantly, antihyperglycemic treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes should be performed by using antidiabetic drugs providing not only proper glycaemic control but even weight loss. NAFPD is a relatively new clinical entity which is rather common and probably underdiagnosed. Basic and new data about NAFPD are of importance for clinicians working in the field of different specialties and sub-specialties (internal medicine, gastroenterology, diabetology, lipidology, obesitology, surgery). Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(44): 1735-1742.

The Epidemiology of Annular Pancreas in the United States: A Population-based Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Annular pancreas is a rare congenital condition where the second part of the duodenum is encircled by pancreatic tissue. There is a scarcity of data on its natural history therefore, we aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of annular pancreas and identify underlying associations using a large database. METHODS: A multi-institutional database (Explorys) was surveyed. A cohort of patients with a Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine-Clinical Terms diagnosis of "MRI, CT, EUS and/or ERCP" between April 2015 and April 2020 was identified. Subsequently a cohort of patients with history of "annular pancreas" was identified. RESULTS: There were a total of 40,075,980 individuals in the database with 6,162,600 (15.38%) who had an magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and/or endoscopic ultrasound. There were 210 (3.4/100,000) had a diagnosis of annular pancreas. When compared with the control group, patients with annular pancreas were more likely to have a history of alcohol use, smoking, acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, gastritis, duodenitis, jaundice, and gastrointestinal outlet obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest study evaluating the epidemiology of annular pancreas. We found the estimated prevalence rate of annular pancreas to be 3.4/100,000 in those who had abdominal imaging. Annular pancreas was more likely to be diagnosed in patients with symptoms pertaining to acute or chronic pancreatitis, biliary, and gastric outlet obstruction.

Pancreatic Steatosis Is Associated with Both Metabolic Syndrome and Pancreatic Stiffness Detected by Ultrasound Elastography.

INTRODUCTION: There is increasing evidence that pancreatic steatosis (PS) is associated with metabolic syndrome (MS). However, it is not known whether it is associated with PS grade and pancreatic stiffness, or not. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between PS and its grade detected by transabdominal ultrasound, and pancreatic stiffness determined by two-dimensional shearwave elastography (2D-SWE), whether it has clinical significance and its relationship with MS. METHODS: Patients with and without PS were evaluated prospectively. RESULTS: Patients with PS had higher odds ratio for MS (OR 5.49). Also, ultrasonographic grade of PS was associated with MS parameters and hepatosteatosis. Pancreatic SWE value was significantly higher in PS group and positively correlated with PS grade, liver fat, MS, number of MS criteria. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: PS and its grade were associated with MS. In this first comprehensive PS-SWE study, we found that pancreas stiffness increased in the presence of PS, in correlation with PS grade and MS.

Clinical Significance of Pancreatic Fat in Children: A Single-Center Experience.

OBJECTIVES: Recently, interest in pancreatic fat has increased, and fatty pancreas is considered to be related to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic syndrome. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of echogenic pancreas in children and its related factors. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients aged 5 to 18 years who had undergone abdominal sonography between January 2020 and December 2020. Patients with chronic or pancreatic diseases were excluded. RESULTS: Of 102 patients, 27 (26.5%) had echogenic pancreas and 55 (53.9%) had NAFLD. Among the 55 patients with NAFLD, 18 (32.7%) had an echogenic pancreas. Patients with echogenic pancreas had significantly higher fasting glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels than those without echogenic pancreas. The proportion of NAFLD and obesity was higher in the echogenic group; however, only the proportion of obese subjects showed a significant difference. In multivariate analysis, family history of diabetes mellitus (DM) and/or dyslipidemia and presence of DM and/or dyslipidemia were factors related to the presence of echogenic pancreas. CONCLUSIONS: Echogenic pancreas is relatively common in children. Echogenic pancreas, typically observed in patients with a family history of DM and/or dyslipidemia, was strongly associated with metabolic syndrome, even in the absence of fatty liver.

The Association Between Pancreatic Steatosis and Metabolic Syndrome: A 5-Year Follow-up Study Among a General Chinese Population.

OBJECTIVES: To date, the complete natural history of pancreatic steatosis is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association of fatty pancreas (FP) in the incidence of metabolic syndrome and its components among Chinese patients with a 5-year follow-up. METHODS: Three independent cross-sectional surveys were carried out in 2013, 2015, and 2018. Fatty pancreas was diagnosed via transabdominal sonography. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the correlation between FP and metabolic syndrome. New cases of metabolic syndrome and its components were estimated by Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: At baseline, 12,551 individuals classified into FP (n = 1010) and non-FP (n = 11,541) groups were finally enrolled. In cross-sectional analyses, odds ratio of FP was 2.378 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.085-2.713; P < 0.001). In longitudinal analyses, FP was associated with the occurrence of metabolic syndrome (hazard ratio [HR], 3.179; 95% CI, 2.197-4.6; P < 0.001), type 2 diabetes mellitus (HR, 13.99; 95% CI, 7.865-24.883; P < 0.001), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (HR, 31.843; 95% CI, 7.73-131.171; P < 0.001), and hypertension (HR, 12.801; 95% CI, 7.323-22.38; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic steatosis is strongly associated with the occurrence of metabolic syndrome and its components such as hypertension and diabetes.

Burden and Cost of Gastrointestinal, Liver, and Pancreatic Diseases in the United States: Update 2021.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Gastrointestinal diseases account for considerable health care use and expenditures. We estimated the annual burden, costs, and research funding associated with gastrointestinal, liver, and pancreatic diseases in the United States. METHODS: We generated estimates using data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey; National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey; Nationwide Emergency Department Sample; National Inpatient Sample; Kids' Inpatient Database; Nationwide Readmissions Database; Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program; National Vital Statistics System; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research; MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters data; MarketScan Medicare Supplemental data; United Network for Organ Sharing registry; Medical Expenditure Panel Survey; and National Institutes of Health (NIH). RESULTS: Gastrointestinal health care expenditures totaled $119.6 billion in 2018. Annually, there were more than 36.8 million ambulatory visits for gastrointestinal symptoms and 43.4 million ambulatory visits with a primary gastrointestinal diagnosis. Hospitalizations for a principal gastrointestinal diagnosis accounted for more than 3.8 million admissions, with 403,699 readmissions. A total of 22.2 million gastrointestinal endoscopies were performed, and 284,844 new gastrointestinal cancers were diagnosed. Gastrointestinal diseases and cancers caused 255,407 deaths. The NIH supported $3.1 billion (7.5% of the NIH budget) for gastrointestinal research in 2020. CONCLUSIONS: Gastrointestinal diseases are responsible for millions of health care encounters and hundreds of thousands of deaths that annually costs billions of dollars in the United States. To reduce the high burden of gastrointestinal diseases, focused clinical and public health efforts, supported by additional research funding, are warranted.