Patient and Disease Characteristics Associated With the Presence of Diabetes Mellitus in Adults With Chronic Pancreatitis in the United States

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common complication of chronic pancreatitis (CP). Past studies for DM risk factors in CP have been limited to single centers or highly focused on a single etiology such as alcoholic or hereditary disease. We studied risk factors for DM in a large population of patients with CP of all etiologies enrolled in the North American Pancreatitis 2 studies. METHODS: Participants (1,171) with CP (n = 383 with DM, n = 788 without DM) were enrolled prospectively from 26 participating centers. Questionnaires were completed by patients and physicians in a cross-sectional assessment. Patient demographics and disease characteristics were compared for CP with DM vs. without DM. Logistic regression was performed to assess the variables associated with DM diagnosis in a multivariable model. RESULTS: Diabetics were more likely to be black (P = 0.02), overweight, or obese (P < 0.001), and with a family history of DM (P = 0.0005). CP patients with DM were more likely to have pancreatic calcifications (63% vs. 54%, P = 0.002), atrophy (44% vs. 32%, P < 0.0001), and prior pancreas surgery (26.9% vs. 16.9%, P < 0.0001). In multivariate logistic regression modeling, the strongest risk factors for DM were obesity (odds ratio (OR) 2.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9, 4.2) and exocrine insufficiency (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.8, 3.2). CONCLUSIONS: In this large multicenter cohort of patients with CP, exocrine insufficiency, calcifications, and pancreas surgery conveyed higher odds of having DM. However, the traditional 'type 2 DM' risk factors of obesity and family history were similarly important in conveying risk for DM.