Early Achievable Severity (EASY) index for simple and accurate expedite risk stratification in acute pancreatitis

Abstract

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most common diseases of the gastrointestinal tract associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The assessment of severity is crucial in the management of the disease. Current methods of risk stratification in AP have a limited value, as they provide little additional information thus delaying appropriate patient care. Early recognition of severe disease may prevent serious adverse events and improve patient management as well as overall clinical outcome.

Methods/design: The EASY trial is an observational, multicenter, prospective cohort study for establishing a simple, easy and accurate clinical scoring system for early prognostication of AP. Evaluation of simple attainable potential prognostic parameters obtained at admission (or not later than 6-12 hours afterwards) from patients diagnosed with AP will be performed to assess their potential correlation with the disease severity. The selected parameters that show the strongest correlation with severe disease course will be further utilized as potential early severity prognostic markers for prospective new patient stratification. Comparison of patients' clinical course with the obtained results of early risk stratification may validate the utilized parameters as prognostic markers. The trial has been (i) discussed and (ii) accepted in a distinguished international scientific meeting, (ii) receiving the relevant ethical approval (TÜKEB: 30595-1/2014/EKU), (ii) registered at the ISRCTN registry which is a primary clinical trial registry recognized by WHO (Trial registration number: ISRCTN10525246).

Conclusion: The EASY trial is designed to develop a simple and accurate clinical scoring system that can stratify patients with AP during the first 6-12 hours of hospitalization according to their risk for severe disease course.