2026 Volume 41 Issue 1 Pages 2-8
Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a progressive and irreversible disease, and its progression is strongly influenced by lifestyle-related factors such as alcohol consumption and smoking, as well as pancreatitis-associated genetic abnormalities. As CP progresses, patients frequently develop pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, which serves as an independent risk factor for sarcopenia and is closely associated with impaired quality of life (QOL) and poor clinical outcomes. Recent nationwide data in Japan have demonstrated that patients with CP exhibit higher incidence and mortality rates of alcohol- and smoking-related malignancies, including pancreatic cancer, compared with the general population, with the most pronounced impact observed in alcohol-related CP. As Japan enters a super-aging society, the proportion of elderly patients with pancreatic diseases continues to increase. These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive lifestyle intervention and holistic long-term management strategies in CP care, with particular emphasis on maintaining QOL and improving long-term prognosis.
