title: Changes in demographic features of gallstone disease: 30 years of surgically treated patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the clinical and demographical characteristics of gallstone disease in Korea, based on 30 years of surgically treated patients at a single institute.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 7,949 gallstone patients who underwent surgery between 1981 and 2010 were analyzed. Patients were divided into six time periods: period I (1981 to 1985, n=831), period II (1986 to 1990, n=888), period III (1991 to 1995, n=1,040), period IV (1996 to 2000, n=1,261), period V (2001 to 2005, n=1,651) and period VI (2006 to 2010, n=2,278).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total number and mean age of the patients gradually increased, and the male/female ratio decreased. The proportion of gallbladder (GB)-stone cases increased, whereas the proportions of common bile duct (CBD)- and intrahepatic duct (IHD)-stone cases decreased. Differences in patient geographical origins also decreased. Based on the relationship between changes in the prevalence of gallstone disease and socioeconomic status, the prevalence of CBD stones showed a strong correlation with Engel's coefficient (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicates that although the total number of cases and the mean age of gallstone patients have continuously increased, there are trends of increasing GB-stone cases and decreasing CBD- and IHD-stone cases.
authors: Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Ye Rim
authors: YR
authors: Chang
authors: Jin-Young
authors: JY
authors: Jang
authors: Wooil
authors: W
authors: Kwon
authors: Jae Woo
authors: JW
authors: Park
authors: Mee Joo
authors: MJ
authors: Kang
authors: Ji Kon
authors: JK
authors: Ryu
authors: Yong Tae
authors: YT
authors: Kim
authors: Young-Beum
authors: YB
authors: Yun
authors: Sun-Whe
authors: SW
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D042883:Choledocholithiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012424:Rural Population / Q000639:trends; D012744:Sex Ratio; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000639:trends
keywords: Cholelithiasis; Epidemiology; Surgery