Pregnancy is not a risk factor for gallstone disease: results of a randomly selected population sample.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and selection of the study population for cholecystolithiasis in an urban population in Germany, in relation to our own findings and to the results in the international literature.


METHODS
A total of 2 147 persons (1,111 females, age 42.8+/-12.7 years; 1,036 males, age 42.3+/-13.1 years) participating in an investigation on the prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis were studied for risk factors and prevalence of gallbladder stone disease. Risk factors were assessed by means of a standardized interview and calculation of body mass index (BMI). A diagnostic ultrasound examination of the gallbladder was performed. Data were analyzed by multiple logistic regression, using the SAS statistical software package.


RESULTS
Gallbladder stones were detected in 171 study participants (8.0%, n=2,147). Risk factors for the development of gallbladder stone disease included age, sex, BMI, and positive family history. In a separate analysis of female study participants, pregnancy (yes/no) and number of pregnancies did not exert any influence.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings of the present study confirm that age, female sex, BMI, and positive family history are risk factors for the development of gallbladder stone disease. Pregnancy and the number of pregnancies, however, could not be shown to be risk factors. There seem to be no differences in the respective prevalence for gallbladder stone disease in urban and rural populations.
Walcher
Thomas
T
University Hospital Ulm, Department of Internal Medicine I, Robert-Koch-Str. 8, D-89081 Ulm, Germany.
Haenle
Mark Martin
MM
Kron
Martina
M
Hay
Birgit
B
Mason
Richard Andrew
RA
von Schmiesing
Alexa Friederike Alice
AF
Imhof
Armin
A
Koenig
Wolfgang
W
Kern
Peter
P
Boehm
Bernhard Otto
BO
Kratzer
Wolfgang
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D042882:Gallstones / Q000453:epidemiology; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011897:Random Allocation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography