Epidemiology of gallstones in a German industrial town (Essen) from 1940-1975.
The prevalence of gallstones was studied in 11,840 consecutive autopsies from 1940 to 1975 in the University hospitals of Essen. The total prevalence was 20.7%: 13.1% for men and 33.7% for women. The male to female sex ratio is 1:2.6. The crude prevalence for three 12-year periods showed a significant increase from 8.2 to 15% in men and from 25.7 to 36.3% in women (p less than 0.001). A detailed analysis showed that this increase occurred only in the age groups over 60 and was the consequence of the fact that a greater proportion of women over 60 came to autopsy. The age- and sex-specific morbidity ratio was calculated to standardize the data. This demonstrated considerable fluctuations in 3-year periods since 1940. It can be concluded that no real increase in the prevalence of gallstones occurred in the last 30 years.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000453:epidemiology; D005858:Germany; D005860:Germany, West; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors