Case control study of predictors of PDAC in electronic health records of primary care physicians

A nationwide case-control study in the UK investigated data in electronic healt records of primary care physicians that were associated with increased risk of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. At least two years before the PDAC diagnosis, cases reported higher prevalence of alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, dyslipedemia, increased blood pressure, and diabetes of more than four years duration. Other risk factors included pancreatic cysts, pancreatitis, elevated alkaline phosphatase, elevated bilirubin, elevated alanine aminotransferase, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and decreased albumin. The authors conclude that primary care electronic records can identify individuals at medium-term increased risk of PDAC.