IMPACT OF COMPREHENSIVE THERAPY ON GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC PANCREATITIS

Background Chronic pancreatitis is a progressive condition that impairs pancreatic function and is particularly challenging to manage in elderly patients. Material and methods The study included 59 elderly patients with chronic pancreatitis who were monitored by their primary care physician. Participants were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n=29), who received treatment according to a standard chronic pancreatitis management protocol, and Group 2 (n=30), who received the same standard treatment plus intracellular systemic enzyme therapy. Results Fecal α-elastase increased by 12.18% in Group 1 and 19.97% in Group 2, with Group 1 5.73% lower post-treatment (p<0.05). The Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) scores showed greater reductions in Group 2, including abdominal pain (-39.04% vs. -30.53%) and indigestion (-31.83% vs. -26.39%) (p<0.05). Nutritional indicators improved more in Group 2, with higher total protein (+6.27% vs. +2.51%) and retinol levels (+57.58% vs. +28.13%) (p<0.05). Conclusions The study found that intracellular systemic enzyme therapy significantly improved outcomes in elderly patients with chronic pancreatitis, including improved fecal α-elastase levels and better coprogram and ultrasound scores. Additionally, the therapy led to notable improvements in gastrointestinal symptoms and biochemical markers, suggesting its potential as a beneficial addition to chronic pancreatitis management.