The epidemiology and impact of pancreatic diseases in the United States

In the United States, acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer are the most common pancreatic disorders requiring diagnosis and treatment. Pancreatic cancer is responsible for nearly 30,000 annual deaths and is the second most common cause of death from any type of gastrointestinal disease. Gallstone disease, which is strongly associated with obesity, and excessive consumption of alcohol are the major risk factors for benign pancreatic disease, whereas smoking is the most important factor known to cause pancreatic cancer. Therefore, to reduce the overall burden of pancreatic disease, we should focus on the control of three lifestyle factors: smoking, drinking, and obesity. Copyright © 2005 by Current Science Inc.