Gall stone disease and associated risk factors in Basra/Iraq

Abstract

Aims: To study the prevalence of gall stones and associated risk factors in Basra. Methods: The study involved 325 patients referred to the endoscopy unit in AL-Sadder Teaching hospital for dyspeptic symptoms. Only patients with positive endoscopic findings were included in the study. During the procedure antral biopsy was immediately immersed in a urease solution for detection of H.pylori. Upper abdominal ultrasonography examination was performed on each patient underwent endoscopy for detection of hidden gall stone.Statistical analysis of the data was conducted by computer, using SPSS program version15, X2 test was used to determine the association between selected risk factors and gall stone disease, P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The prevalence of gall stones was markedly and significantly higher among females and it is gradually increased with the increase of age, 38.0% among patients less than 40 years of age to 56.2% among those 50 years or older. The prevalence of gall stone disease among patients with positive history of contraceptive use, women with parity 5 or more and in the H.pylori positive patients were statistically significant (p < 0.05). But there is no significant associations were found with education, family history, BMI or diabetes mellitus. Conclusions: This study confirms that in Basra population the prevalence of gall stones gradually increased with the increase of age, and patients with gall stones were predominately females, of high parity and positive history of contraceptive pills use. The prevalence of gall stones among H.pylori positive patients was much higher than that among H.pylori negative patients.