Endocrine Abstracts

Background and Aims: Type 3c diabetes mellitus (T3cDM) is a secondary form of diabetes commonly associated with chronic pancreatitis (CP). Unlike Type 1 (T1DM) and Type 2 diabetes (T2DM), T3cDM results in exocrine as well as endocrine dysfunction, leading to complex management challenges. There has been limited research on diabetes-related complications in patients with CP-associated T3cDM, although guidelines state that cardiovascular complications are less likely. We aimed to conduct the first systematic review of the prevalence of short- and long-term complications in T3cDM secondary to CP, and to compare prevalence to expected levels for other diabetes subgroups.

Materials and Methods: Studies were identified through database searches (EMBASE, Scopus, MEDLINE, WoSCC) and screened for eligibility based on defined eligibility criteria. Data were extracted and studies assessed for quality with the JBI Critical Appraisal Tool. Extracted data were synthesised narratively, and outcomes tabularised.

Results: Thirteen studies were eligible for inclusion. Reported prevalence for retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy was 0-47.5%, 0-50%, and 2.37-28.6%, respectively. The prevalence of macrovascular disease ranged from 0-42.9%. In terms of short-term complications, cumulative hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic syndrome prevalence was 1.2-7.1% over; 10y, and there were few data on hypoglycaemia and ketoacidosis. Whilst variable, prevalence was comparable to levels reported for T1DM/T2DM, particularly for retinopathy, neuropathy, and cardiovascular complications.

Conclusion: Diabetes-related complications, including cardiovascular events, are common in T3cDM-CP patients, and prevalence is comparable to rates for T1DM and T2DM, there is a clear paucity of research on this topic.