Prevalence of gallbladder stone disease in obese children and adolescents: influence of the degree of obesity, sex, and pubertal development.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of gallbladder stone disease (GD) in a collective of obese children and adolescents and to assess the role of potential influencing factors such as the degree of obesity, sex, age, and pubertal development.


METHODS
Four hundred ninety-three obese children and adolescents (body mass index standard deviation score [BMI-SDS] > 2.0p) aged 8 to 19 years (218 males, 275 females) were included in the study and underwent ultrasound for detection of GD.


RESULTS
Gallbladder stones were detected in 10 of 493 (2.0%; 8 girls, 2 boys) subjects studied. None of the 95 prepubertal children examined were found to suffer from GD. Patients with GD were more severely obese (BMI-SDS 3.4 +/- 0.5 vs. 2.7 +/- 0.4; P < 0.001) and older (16.1 +/- 1.5 vs.13.9 +/- 2.0 years; P < 0.008) than children and adolescents without GD.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with published data for unselected children an adolescents, the prevalence of GD (2.0%) in obese children and adolescents, previously treated with diet for obesity, is high. Obesity and female sex appear even in children and adolescents to be risk factors for the development of GD. The occurrence of prepubertal GD is rare.
Kaechele
Volker
V
Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Wabitsch
Martin
M
Thiere
Dorothee
D
Kessler
Alexandra Lydia
AL
Haenle
Mark Martin
MM
Mayer
Hermann
H
Kratzer
Wolfgang
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004035:Diet Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000178:diet therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D014463:Ultrasonography