- Acute pancreatitis is a common condition
- Affects between 40 and 70 people per 100,000 population per year
- Annual incidence is increasing
- Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) accounts for 15-20% of cases of pancreatitis
- Still carries high mortality though overall deaths remain stable despite increased incidence:
- Reflects recent advances in management
- Mortality rate of up to 30% reported