title: Strong association between gallstones and cardiovascular disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity is closely associated with the increased morbidity and mortality of many common diseases in the Western world, including coronary heart disease (CHD) and gallstone diseases (GD). We have investigated the association between GD and CHD in a cross-sectional study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects who had gallstones visible by ultrasound were considered as cases and subjects negative for gallstones were classified as controls. Positive CHD was defined when the stress test was positive. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, serum lipid concentrations, and insulin resistance were measured. The association was estimated by odds ratios using logistic regression models adjusted for confounders. Four hundred and seventy-three subjects (292 males and 181 females) were included, comprising 354 controls and 119 cases. Subjects with GD had higher prevalence of CHD (15.96%) than controls (4.52%) (p < 0.0001). In univariate unconditional logistic regression analysis CHD, BMI >/= 30 kg/m(2), waist circumference, high blood pressure, and HOMA-IR > 2.5 were the most important risk factors for GD. In multivariate analysis (adjusted for age and gender, and BMI) the risk for GD in subjects with CHD was higher (OR 2.84, 95% CI: 1.33-6.07, p < 0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subjects with CHD have an increased risk to have GD, both diseases are strongly associated and the main characteristics of these subjects are those frequently involved as part of the metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Research, Liver Unit. Medica Sur Clinic & Foundation, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Nahum
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Méndez-Sánchez
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bahena-Aponte
authors.forename: Norberto C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Chávez-Tapia
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Motola-Kuba
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Lara
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ponciano-Radríguez
authors.forename: Martha H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Misael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uribe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D042882:Gallstones / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011336:Probability; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio