A Nationwide Population-Based Study of Racial Differences in the Outcomes of Necrotizing Pancreatitis Hospitalizations

Introduction: Limited information is available regarding the outcomes of hospitalized individuals with necrotizing pancreatitis when considering their racial background. In this retrospective cohort study, we examined the discrepancies in outcomes among individuals of different races who were diagnosed with necrotizing pancreatitis. Methods: Data was gathered from the 2020 national inpatient sample (NIS) database. The primary outcome assessed was inpatient mortality, while secondary outcomes included length of stay and total hospital charges. Data analysis was conducted using STAT version 17. Results: Following propensity matching and adjustment for confounding factors, our study identified a total of 23,665 hospitalizations for necrotizing pancreatitis, with 15,185 White patients, 2,905 Black patients, 3,355 Hispanic patients, 630 Asian patients, and 255 Native American patients. Hispanics exhibited a 48% lower risk of death compared to Whites (OR 0.52, P=0.02). However, no statistically significant differences were observed among the remaining racial groups. Conclusion: In comparison to Hispanic patients, White patients diagnosed with necrotizing pancreatitis displayed a higher risk of mortality. Additional research is necessary to comprehensively understand and address this disparity.