Clinical predictors of incident gallstone disease in a Chinese population in Taipei, Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
Gallstone disease (GSD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder throughout the world. The authors explored the incidence of GSD in Taiwan and its condition-associated predictive factors.


METHODS
The initial study cohort comprised 2386 healthy adult participants, who were voluntarily admitted to a teaching hospital for a physical check-up in 2002 in Taipei, Taiwan. After excluding 126 patients who exhibited prevalent GSD, 2260 non-GSD participants received annual follow-up screenings for GSD until 31 December, 2007. Of those, 1296 (57.3%) patients were re-examined to collect blood samples and conduct ultrasound sonography.


RESULTS
Among the 1296 participants who exhibited no GSD at the first screening, 23 patients developed GSD during 3640 person-years of follow-up. The incidence was 0.632% per year (95% CI: 0.292%-2.009%). After conducting a Cox regression, increased age (50-59 years versus < 40 years, RR = 2.16 [95% CI: 1.09-5.97], 60+ years versus < 40 years, RR = 3.81 [95% CI: 2.77-8.63]), high body mass index (≥27 kg/m2 versus < 24 kg/m2, RR = 1.64 [95% CI: 1.07-2.98]), high fasting plasma glucose levels (≥126 mg/dL versus < 110 mg/dL, RR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.10-3.87), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (yes versus no, RR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.21-1.90) appeared to be significantly related to developing GSD.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased age is a well-established risk factor for developing GSD. The current findings indicated that high body mass index, elevated fasting plasma glucose levels, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease were also associated with GSD.
Jau-Yuan
JY
Chen
Chung-Te
CT
Hsu
Jorn-Hon
JH
Liu
Cheng Hsin General Hospital; Faculty of Public Health, School of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan. ch2876@gmail.com.
Tao-Hsin
TH
Tung
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D042882:Gallstones / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology