Prevalences of and risk factors for biliary stones and gallbladder polyps in a large Chinese population

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the prevalences of and risk factors associated with the development of gallbladder stones and polyps in a large Chinese population. Methods: Prevalences of and risk factors for biliary stones and gallbladder polyps were retrospectively investigated among subjects who underwent a general check‐up at the Health Screening Centres of Peking Union Medical College Hospital and Beijing Charity Hospital between January 2007 and June 2010. Results: A total of 60 064 people were enrolled in the study. Overall prevalences of biliary stones and gallbladder polyps were 4.2% (n= 2527) and 6.9% (n= 4119), respectively. Risk factors associated with increased odds ratios (ORs) for the development of biliary stones were female gender (OR = 1.51), age ≥50 years (OR = 2.09), history of hypertension (OR = 1.37), thickened gallbladder wall (cholecystitis) (OR = 1.98), fasting blood glucose ≥6.10 mmol/l (OR = 1.27), body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 (OR = 1.25), systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg (OR = 1.31) and diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg (OR = 1.44). Factors associated with gallbladder polyps were female gender (OR = 0.66), thickened gallbladder wall (OR = 2.09), negativity for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and positivity for hepatitis B core antibody (anti‐HBc) (OR = 2.61), and positivity for both HBsAg and anti‐HBc (OR = 3.21). Conclusions: Prevalences of biliary stones and gallbladder polyps among Chinese people are similar to those reported for other populations. Biliary stones appear to be associated with female gender, age, obesity, blood glucose, blood pressure and cholecystitis. Male gender, hepatitis B virus infection and cholecystitis were strong risk factors for the formation of gallbladder polyps.

Prevalence and risk factors for gallstone disease: A population‐based cross‐sectional study

“…Age, sex and heredity have been mentioned as factors related to gallstone disease. 7,17,[23][24][25][26][27][28][29] Similar to the previous studies, our data…”

“…Female sex is an evident risk factor for gallstones in Europe and North America, but is not related to its prevalence in the East Asian population. 7,17,19,20,[23][24][25][26] Additionally, data from China showed a high prevalence of gallstones in women in the Uyghur group but in not the Han Chinese group. 7 In the current study, we found no correlation between sex and gallstones (6.22% in men vs 7.31% in women, P = 0.173).…”

Body Mass Index Can Increase the Risk of Gallbladder Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of 14 Cohort Studies

“…Numerous of studies [4,5,41] have confirmed that gallstone are the main cause of GBC. We found that obesity was not only strongly associated with gallstones [42] but also had an increased frequency of gallstones [43].…”

Case Report: Are We Prepared to Manage Acute Abdomen in the Super-Obese Patient?

“…Appendicitis continues to be the first cause and could not be ruled out initially in this case. Cholelithiasis is another possibility, since obesity is associated with a 25% increased risk of this pathology [7]. Pancreatitis would be the third possibility, given its high rates of occurrence in obese patients due to the existence of biliary stones.…”