A population-based follow-up study on gallstone disease among type 2 diabetics in Kinmen, Taiwan.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the incidence of and risk factors for gallstone disease (GSD) among type 2 diabetics in Kinmen, Taiwan.


METHODS
A screening program for GSD was performed by two specialists who employed real-time abdominal ultrasound to examine the abdominal region after patients had fasted for at least eight hours. Screening, which was conducted in 2001, involved 848 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. After exclusion of 63 subjects with prevalent GSD, 377 participants without GSD were invited in 2002 for a second round of screening. A total of 281 (74.5%) subjects were re-examined.


RESULTS
Among the 281 type 2 diabetics who had no GSD at the first screening, 10 had developed GSD by 2002. The incidence was 3.56% per year (95% CI: 1.78% per year-6.24% per year). Using a Cox regression model, age (RR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.00-1.14), waist circumference (RR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.01-1.29), and ALT (RR = 1.13, 95%CI: 1.01-1.26) appeared to be significantly correlated with development of GSD.


CONCLUSIONS
Older age is a known risk factor for the development of GSD. Our study shows that greater waist circumference and elevated ALT levels are also associated with the development of GSD among type 2 diabetics in Kinmen.
Tung
Tao-Hsin
TH
Cheng Hsin Rehabilitation Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; National Taipei College of Nursing, Taipei, Taiwan, China.
Ho
Hsiao-Man
HM
Shih
Hui-Chuan
HC
Chou
Pesus
P
Liu
Jorn-Hon
JH
Chen
Victor-T K
VT
Chan
De-Chuan
DC
Liu
Chi-Ming
CM
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D042882:Gallstones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
D000410:Alanine Transaminase