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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 28, 2006; 12(8): 1281-1286
Published online Feb 28, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i8.1281
Clinical correlation of gallstone disease in a Chinese population in Taiwan: Experience at Cheng Hsin General Hospital
Chi-Ming Liu, Tao-Hsin Tung, Pesus Chou, Victor Tze-Kai Chen, Chung-Te Hsu, Wu-Shyong Chien, Yeu-Tyng Lin, Hsu-Feng Lu, Hui-Chuan Shih, Jorn-Hon Liu
Chi-Ming Liu, Tao-Hsin Tung, Community Medicine Research Center & Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University; Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, China
Pesus Chou, Community Medicine Research Center & Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, China
Victor Tze-Kai Chen, Cardinal Tien Hospital; College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University; National Defence Medicine Center, Taipei, Taiwan, China
Chung-Te Hsu, Wu-Shyong Chien, Yeu-Tyng Lin, Hsu-Feng Lu, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, China
Hui-Chuan Shih, Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Military General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, China
Jorn-Hon Liu, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University; Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, China
Co-first-author: Tao-Hsin Tung
Co-correspondents: Chi-Ming Liu
Correspondence to: Dr Jorn-Hon Liu, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Shih-Pai, 112, Taipei, Taiwan, China. ch9043@chgh.org.tw
Telephone: +886-2-28264400-8002 Fax: +886-2-28264550
Received: May 18, 2005
Revised: July 25, 2005
Accepted: August 26, 2005
Published online: February 28, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To explore the prevalence of gallstone disease (GSD) in Taiwan and condition-associated factors related to it.

METHODS: We studied a total of 2386 healthy adults (1235 males and 1151 females) voluntarily admitted to Cheng Hsin General Hospital for a paid physical check-up between January 2002 and December 2002. Blood samples and ultrasound sonography results were collected.

RESULTS: The overall prevalence of GSD among this study-population was 5.3%, including 1.7% (n = 40) having a single stone, 2.3% (n = 55) having multiple stones, and 1.3% (n = 31) having cholecystectomy. The prevalence revealed a statistically significant increase with increasing age (P < 0.0001). Females exhibited a greater prevalence of multiple stones than did males (3.0% vs 1.7%, P = 0.04). Using multiple logistic regression analysis, the following appeared to be significantly related to the prevalence of GSD: older age (40-49 years vs <40 years, OR = 1.63 [95% CI: 0.76-3.48], 50-59 years vs <40 years, OR = 4.93 [95% CI: 2.43-9.99], 60-69 years vs <40 years, OR = 6.82 [95% CI: 3.19-14.60], ≥70 years vs <40 years, OR = 10.65 [95% CI: 4.78-23.73]), higher BMI (≥27 kg/m2 vs <24 kg/m2, adjusted OR = 1.74 [95% CI: 1.04-2.88]), and higher FPG (≥ 126 mg/dL vs <110 mg/dL, OR = 1.71, 95%CI: 1.01-2.96).

CONCLUSION: Older age (≥50 years), obesity (BMI ≥27 kg/m2), and type 2 diabetes (FPG ≥126 mg/dL) are associated with the prevalence of GSD.

Keywords: Cross-sectional study; Gallstone disease; Prevalence; Risk factors