title: Risk factors in patients with hereditary gallstones in Chinese pedigrees.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to define the risk factors and to evaluate the impact of family background on the prevalence of gallstones in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight gallstone pedigrees were collected and a case-control study was conducted. This study consisted of 272 first-degree relatives and 201 non-first-degree relatives of index patients. The participants completed a questionnaire and underwent physical and ultrasonographic examinations. The risk factors examined included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, alcohol consumption, pregnancy, fat content in dietary meat, history of gastrointestinal surgery, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, coronary heart disease and diabetes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of gallstones in first-degree and non-first-degree relatives of index patients was 38.2 and 10.9%, respectively. Age, pregnancy and BMI significantly differed between cases and controls (p < 0.05). The relative risks were: consumption of meat with a high fat content 1.4 (95% CI 1.1-1.8); hyperlipidemia 2.4 (95% CI 1.3-4.6); diabetes 1.9 (95% CI 1.1-3.2); fatty liver 4.9 (95% CI 1.0-24); coronary heart disease 2.5 (95% CI 1.7-3.9).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data showed that age, overweight, more consumption of high-fat food, high frequency of pregnancy, fatty liver, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease and diabetes could increase the risk of gallstones in the first-degree relatives of index patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Nankai Clinical School of Medicine, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Yunfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Zhonglian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Erpeng
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Naiqiang
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors