Changes in incidence and prevalence of acute and chronic pancreatitis in Germany

It is difficult to provide valid data with regard to changes in incidence a nd prevalence of acute pancreatitis in Germany. The lack of information is due to strict legal regulations to protect personal data, a certain lack of interest in epidemiological research and the lack of exact statistics of d iseases treated in hospitals. The incidence of acute pancreatitis in other industrialized Western countries is about 10 new cases per year and 100,000 inhabitants. The increase of alcohol consumption over the last 30 years is associated with an increase of ethanol-induced pancreatitis. One may specu late that due to improved diagnostic possibilities, such as CT scan, cases where acute pancreatitis is diagnosed at autopsy are rare. Due to the incre ase in alcohol consumption it can be assume that the incidence and prevalen ce of chronic pancreatitis have increased in Germany similar to well-docume nted data from Denmark. Since alcohol consumption is slightly decreasing in Germany it is likely that the present incidence of about 10 cases of chron ic pancreatitis per 100,000 inhabitants will also decrease.