title: Is Metabolic Syndrome One of the Risk Factors for Gallbladder Polyps Found by Ultrasonography during Health Screening?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We conducted this study to identify the risk factors for finding gallbladder polyps (GBP) in Korean subjects during health screening, and to determine the nature of the association between the presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and the development of GBP METHODS: A total of 1,523 subjects were enrolled, comprising 264 with GBP (81 women and 183 men) and 1,259 controls (696 women and 563 men with normal GB). Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), insulin, fasting blood sugar (FBS), lipids, liver enzymes, hepatitis B antigens (HBs Ag), and hepatitis C antibodies (HCV Ab) were measured. MS was considered to be present when three or more of the NCEP-ATPIII (National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III) criteria were satisfied. Insulin resistance was calculated by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Independent risk factors were analyzed by logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Univariate analysis revealed that the risk factors for GBP were age, sex, WC, smoking history, BP, BMI, FBS, serum lipids, HOMA-IR score, and MS. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk factors for GBP were presence of MS (Odds Ratio (OR)=2.35, 95%Confidence Interval (CI)=1.53-3.60), being male (OR=2.34, 95%CI=1.72-3.18), HOMA-IR score>2.5 (OR=1.64, 95%CI=1.19-2.26), and higher WC (OR=1.4, 95%CI=1.05-1.88). MS was present in 20.8% and 5.9% of GBP patients and controls, respectively, and was the highest risk factor for GBP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MS, male, insulin resistance, and abdominal obesity are probably risk factors for GBP, with MS appearing to be strongly associated with GBP in Koreans.
authors.affiliation: Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Healthcare Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seon Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Dong Hee
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young Sun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chung Hyun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.forename: Kyung Ran
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Sun Sin
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Nayoung
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Heon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Byung-Hee
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Oh