Quantifying the Risk of Drug-Induced Pancreatitis With Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Statins Using a Large Electronic Medical Record Database

Objectives Quantify the risk of drug-induced pancreatitis (DIP) from angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEis) and 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). Methods Retrospective cohort analysis using IBM Explorys (1999–2019), a pooled, deidentified clinical database of more than 63 million patients across the United States. Odds ratios were calculated to determine the risk of DIP from ACEi, statins, and both medications together. χ 2 testing assessed the relationship between age, sex, ethnicity, insurance status, and mortality among patients with DIP from ACEi, statins, or both combined. Results Acute pancreatitis (AP) was found in 280,740 patients. Odds ratios for ACEi, statins, and both combined were 6.12, 4.97, and 5.72, respectively. Thirty-eight percent of all-cause AP occurs in adults older than 65 years. Acute pancreatitis from ACEi and statins occurs in 49% and 56% of patients older than 65 years, respectively. Men and patients older than 65 years are at higher risk of DIP from ACEi and statins. Patients on Medicaid are at higher risk of DIP from statins, and Asian patients are at highest risk of DIP from ACEi. Conclusions We found that ACEi and statins increase the odds of DIP. Although ACEis and statins are critical medications for many patients, clinicians should consider using alternatives in patients with AP of unclear etiology.