title: Lifestyle risk factors for intrahepatic stone: findings from a case-control study in an endemic area, Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine associations between lifestyle risk factors and intrahepatic stone (IHS), we conducted a case-control study in Taiwan, which has the highest incidence of IHS in the world.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study subjects were 151 patients newly diagnosed with IHS at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between January 1999 and December 2001. Two control subjects per case were selected randomly from patients who underwent minor surgery at the same hospital and from family members or neighbors of the hospital staff. Controls were matched to each case by age and gender. Information on lifestyle factors was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Strength of associations was assessed using odds ratios derived from conditional logistic models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Female patients were significantly shorter than female controls. Compared to subjects with two or fewer children, odds ratios for those with six or more children were 20.4 in men (95% confidence interval, 1.89-221) and 2.82 (0.97-8.22) in women. Increasing level of education lowered the risk of intrahepatic stone (trend P = 0.004 for men and < 0.0001 for women). Women who had consumed ground-surface water for a long period had a somewhat increased risk (trend P = 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower socioeconomic status and poor hygiene may be involved in the development of intrahepatic stones.
authors: Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan. m-momi@ka2.so-net.ne.jp
authors: Masato
authors: M
authors: Momiyama
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Wakai
authors: Koji
authors: K
authors: Oda
authors: Junichi
authors: J
authors: Kamiya
authors: Yoshiyuki
authors: Y
authors: Ohno
authors: Michinari
authors: M
authors: Hamaguchi
authors: Yasuni
authors: Y
authors: Nakanuma
authors: Ling-Ling
authors: LL
authors: Hsieh
authors: Ta-Sen
authors: TS
authors: Yeh
authors: Tse-Ching
authors: TC
authors: Chen
authors: Yi-Yi
authors: YY
authors: Jan
authors: Miin-Fu
authors: MF
authors: Chen
authors: Yuji
authors: Y
authors: Nimura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000473:pathology*; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014881:Water Supply