The global incidence of acute pancreatitis (AP) is rising, yet data from Australia remain limited. This population-based study investigated incidence trends and socio-demographic associations of AP in Tasmania over a 12-year period (2007–2018), using linked hospital, pathology, and administrative datasets. Cases were identified via ICD-10 hospitalization codes or elevated serum amylase/lipase levels.
A total of 4,905 public hospital episodes of AP were recorded in 3,503 individuals. The overall age-standardised person-based incidence was 54 per 100,000 per year. A strong inverse relationship was observed between incidence and socio-economic status, with the most disadvantaged quartile experiencing a rate of 71 per 100,000, compared to 32 per 100,000 in the least disadvantaged. Notably, AP incidence increased across all socio-economic groups, with the steepest rise occurring in the least disadvantaged. Biliary causes were more common than alcohol-related AP, though “unspecified” aetiologies predominated.
These findings align with international literature suggesting that socio-economic disadvantage is linked to higher rates and worse outcomes of pancreatitis across its spectrum. Contributing factors may include higher alcohol intake, poor diet, limited health literacy, and reduced access to healthcare. The Tasmanian data demonstrate that the burden of disease is not only high but rising most steeply in vulnerable populations.
This is the first Australian study to provide robust, population-level evidence of a socio-economic gradient in AP incidence. The findings support reframing pancreatitis as a disease of disadvantage and highlight the need for targeted prevention, early intervention, and holistic care strategies to reduce inequity and improve outcomes.