title: Prevalence and risk factors for gallstone disease.
abstract: Gallstone disease is a main public health problem. The overall prevalence data range from 3.9% in the pre-echographic era to 13.7% when ultrasonography was used as a diagnostic tool. This study is aimed to determine the prevalence of gallstone disease in a medium income level population in Lima, as well as the relationship with some risk factors: age, sex, familiar history and obesity. A total of 534 adult men and women from a medium economic level underwent ultrasonographic examination of abdomen for detection of gallstone disease (July 2003). The echographic evaluation was performed by 10 general surgeons trained in ultrasonography. Likewise, 4 risk factors--age, gender, familial history, and obesity--were analyzed. Pearson chi2 test (2-sided) was used with a probability of <0.05 for statistical significance and logistic regression analyses for assessment of confounding factors. The prevalence founded was 15%. Eighty-one of 534 participants had lithiasis. Compared to the age group under 30, the odds ratio for the 31 to 50 years and >50 years of age group was 0.9 and 1.1, respectively. The female-male ratio was 1.07 and the odds ratio 0.8. The prevalence of gallstone disease in people reporting a first-degree relative with lithiasis was 21%, whereas in participants without such a condition, it was 13%. On the other hand, a familial history was present in 38% of the lithiasis group and in 25% of the nonlithiasis group. The odds ratio for familial history was 1.8 (P = 0.01, 95% confidence interval 1.1-2.9). The prevalence of the disease for body mass index <24, 25 to 29, and higher than 30 was 17%, 14% and 13%, respectively. Compared to the reference group (body mass index <24), the other 2 groups (body mass index 25-29 and >30) both had a similar odds ratio, 0.8. Logistic regression analyses showed an odds ratio of 1.9 for familiar history (95% confidence interval 1.1-3.2), whereas the odds ratio of the overweight (body mass index 25-29) and obese group (body mass index >30) when compared to the normal group, BMI <24, was 0.7 and 0.9, respectively. The prevalence data for gallstone disease remain slightly higher than those previously reported. Although the familiar history was the only characteristic with a statistically significant positive relationship with lithiasis, additional studies are needed because few biases could not be completely avoided and some confounding factors were not controlled.
authors.affiliation: Endoscopìa Quirùrgica, Surco, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salinas
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Velásquez
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saavedra
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Angulo
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tamayo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orellana
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huivin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valdivia
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography