Strong association between gallstones and cardiovascular disease.
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.
Méndez-Sánchez
Nahum
N
Department of Biomedical Research, Liver Unit. Medica Sur Clinic & Foundation, Mexico City, Mexico.
Bahena-Aponte
Jesús
J
Chávez-Tapia
Norberto C
NC
Motola-Kuba
Daniel
D
Sánchez-Lara
Karla
K
Ponciano-Radríguez
Guadalupe
G
Ramos
Martha H
MH
Uribe
Misael
M
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