DOI: 10.1097/mpa.0000000000002308 ISSN: 1536-4828

Racial and Ethnic Minorities With Acute Pancreatitis Live in Neighborhoods With Higher Social Vulnerability Scores

Paya Sarraf, Rohit Agrawal, Haya Alrashdan, Mitali Agarwal, Brian Boulay, Ece R. Mutlu, Lisa Tussing-Humphreys, Darwin Conwell, Sage Kim, Brian T. Layden, Cemal Yazici
  • Endocrinology
  • Hepatology
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Internal Medicine
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Objectives

The primary objective was to determine differences in Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) scores among minorities (African-Americans and Hispanics) with acute pancreatitis (AP) compared with non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) with AP. The secondary objectives were to determine differences in diet, sulfidogenic bacteria gene copy numbers (gcn) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) levels between the 2 groups.

Materials and Methods

Patients with AP were enrolled during hospitalization (n = 54). Patient residential addresses were geocoded, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s SVI scores were appended. Dietary intake and serum H2S levels were determined. Microbial DNAs were isolated from stool, and gcn of sulfidogenic bacteria were determined.

Results

Minorities had higher SVI scores compared with NHWs (P = 0.006). They also had lower consumption of beneficial nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids [stearidonic (P = 0.019), and eicosapentaenoic acid (P = 0.042)], vitamin D (P = 0.025), and protein from seafood (P = 0.031). Lastly, minorities had higher pan-dissimilatory sulfite reductase A (pan-dsrA) gcn (P = 0.033) but no significant differences in H2S levels (P = 0.226).

Conclusion

Minorities with AP have higher SVI compared with NHWs with AP. Higher SVI scores, lower consumption of beneficial nutrients, and increased gcn of pan-dsrA in minorities with AP suggest that neighborhood vulnerability could be contributing to AP inequities.

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