The incidence and mortality from pancreatitis in Finland between 1970 and 1989 were studied and compared with the alcohol consumption in the country and with the incidence of liver cirrhosis and gall stone disease.

Hospital discharge data were obtained from the Finnish National Agency for Welfare and Health, the causes of deaths from the Finnish State Statistics, and annual alcohol consumption from the Finnish State Alcohol Company.

There were 56 353 hospital treatment periods because of pancreatitis.

The incidence of pancreatitis discharges increased from 46.6 to 73.4/100 000/year.

In men it increased from 59.1 to 113.4, but in women it remained unchanged (mean 35.0).