Pancreatogenic Diabetes after Partial Pancreatectomy: A Common and Understudied Cause of Morbidity

Abstract

Background: Partial pancreatic resection is a known risk factor for new-onset pancreatogenic diabetes mellitus (P-DM). The long-term incidence of P-DM and its clinical impact after partial pancreatic resection remains unknown. The primary objective of this study is to determine the long-term incidence of P-DM and its clinical impact after partial pancreatic resection. Study Design: The Medicare 100% Standard Analytic File (2013 to 2017) was queried for all patients who underwent partial pancreatic resection (pancreaticoduodenectomy, distal pancreatectomy). The primary outcome was the development of postoperative P-DM after surgery. Results: Among 4,255 patients who underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy or distal pancreatectomy, with a median follow-up of 10.8 months, the incidence of P-DM was 20.3% (n=863) and occurred at a median of 3.6 months after surgery. For patients with at least a 3-year follow-up, 32.2% of patients developed P-DM. Risk factors for developing P-DM included male sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.32, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.54), undergoing a distal pancreatectomy (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.68 to 2.35), having a malignant diagnosis (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.34 to 2.04), a family history of diabetes (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.43 to 2.97; all p < 0.001), and being classified as prediabetic in the preoperative setting (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.08; p = 0.002). Patients who developed P-DM were more commonly readmitted within 90 days of surgery and had higher postoperative healthcare expenditures in the year after surgery ($24,440 US dollars vs $16,130 US dollars; both p < 0.001) vs patients without P-DM. Conclusions: Approximately 1 in 5 Medicare beneficiaries who undergo a pancreatic resection develop P-DM after pancreatic resection. Appropriate screening and improved patient education should be conducted for these patients, in particular, for those with identified risk factors.