Rudrapur, Uttarakhand – A comprehensive study conducted by Ayurvedic researchers of Vaidya Chandra Prakash Research Foundation and Padav has revealed many shocking statistics. The study revealed that pancreatitis in India mainly affects young adult men. Among them, young people between 19 and 45 years were found who were suffering from diseases like irregular routine, mental stress and insomnia. Padma Shri Vaidya Balendu Prakash said that it provides important information on the changing landscape of pancreatitis in India. Published in the Journal of the Epidemiology Foundation of India (Volume 3, Issue One, January-March 2025), the study spans almost three decades, analyzing the demographic and clinical profiles of 2,050 patients between January 1997 and November 2024. Led by Dr. Vaidya Balendu Prakash, the research compiles data from leading medical institutions in India such as AIG Hyderabad, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Delhi, and AIIMS Delhi. He pointed out that the study revealed striking demographic trends, indicating that pancreatitis in India primarily affects young adult males. Of the total patients, 83% (1,692) were men, and 75% (1,531) were in the 19-45 age group, with a median age of 24 years. This differs from the global pattern, where the disease often affects older populations. Notably, only 33.6% of patients reported alcohol consumption—the leading cause in Western countries—while gallbladder-related pancreatitis was seen in only 5% of cases. Tobacco use was reported in 18.4% of patients. These findings challenge conventional beliefs and highlight the prominence of cases in India with non-alcoholic and unknown causes, including a unique variety called tropical pancreatitis, which is associated with protein deficiency and mineral malnutrition.
Vaidya Balendu Prakash informed that geographical analysis revealed significant regional variation, with Uttar Pradesh reporting the highest number of cases (391 patients), followed by Maharashtra (213), Gujarat (136), and Delhi (132). Other states such as Karnataka, Haryana, and Uttarakhand also contributed significant numbers, indicating the widespread presence of the disease in northern and western India. This is in contrast to earlier research that found south India to be the epicentre of pancreatitis, indicating the need for extensive epidemiological surveys to map its true extent across the country.
He informed that lifestyle factors were identified as significant contributors to the onset of the disease. An astonishing 92.5% of the patients were late night sleepers, a habit that is associated with disruption of circadian rhythms and increased pancreatic inflammation. In addition, 52.3% reported skipping meals, and 45.2% followed a non-vegetarian diet. Stress was another significant factor, especially in the largest occupational groups in the study—students (414), businessmen (285), service professionals (209), and housewives (73). These findings point to modern lifestyle pressures—poor sleep, irregular diet, and chronic stress—as underrecognized drivers of pancreatitis in India, beyond alcoholism and gallstones.
The study also builds on the authors’ previous research, which demonstrated the efficacy of Ayurvedic treatment protocols in the management of pancreatitis. Corresponding author Dr. Vaidya Balendu Prakash emphasized the significance of these findings: “Pancreatitis is no longer a disease induced solely by alcoholism or gallstones. Our data reflect a young, predominantly male patient population that is struggling with stress, sleep deprivation, and dietary irregularities. This calls for a shift in prevention and treatment approaches, integrating traditional and alternative strategies such as Ayurveda to address these multifaceted causes.”
With pancreatitis cases increasing by 3% annually globally and a 59% increase in new cases between 1990 and 2021, the study calls for urgent action. It recommends nationwide surveys to explore regional and lifestyle influences, as well as public health initiatives promoting early intervention, stress management, and sleep hygiene. The authors also advocate for larger, multi-center studies to validate these findings and develop customized prevention strategies.
Located in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand, VCPC Research Foundation is a pioneer in integrative medical research, focused on gastrointestinal diseases such as pancreatitis. In collaboration with leading hospitals and its sister institution, Padav Ayurvedic Treatment Center, it strives to combine traditional and modern health care approaches. Vaidya Balendu Prakash