Clinical correlation of gallstone disease in a Chinese population in Taiwan: Experience at Cheng Hsin General Hospital

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/m(2), 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/m(2)), and type 2 diabetes (FPG >= 126 mg/dL) are associated with the prevalence of GSD. (c) 2006 The WJG Press. All rights reserved.