Presence of CVD significantly decreases survival rate among acute pancreatitis patients: Study

Among specific conditions, pulmonary embolism posed the highest risk, with patients being over 12 times more likely to die in the hospital (OR 12.19). This was followed by stroke (OR 7.21) and myocardial infarction (OR 4.71) which dramatically raised the odds of in-hospital death.

Other significant risk factors included, heart failure (OR 2.16) which more than doubled the mortality risk in AP cases. Atrial fibrillation/flutter (OR 1.61): These irregular heart rhythms also showed a strong link to poor outcomes. Peripheral artery disease (OR 1.25): Though a milder risk factor compared to others, it still significantly raised mortality odds.

The findings emphasized the need for holistic patient assessment when treating acute pancreatitis. Overall, these results highlight that in-hospital outcomes are not only determined by the severity of AP itself, but also by the burden of underlying cardiovascular disease. Early identification and management of cardiovascular issues could become a crucial step in reducing hospital mortality.

Reference:

Keller, K., Hobohm, L., Schmitt, V. H., Hahad, O., Labenz, C., Espinola-Klein, C., Möhler, M., & Sivanathan, V. (2025). Cardiovascular comorbidities predict mortality in acute pancreatitis. International Journal of Cardiology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2025.133409