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Has the prevalence of cholesterol gallstones increased in K orea? A preliminary single‐center experience
Author(s) -
Kim Ju Wan,
Oh HyoungChul,
Do Jae Hyuk,
Choi YooShin,
Lee Seung Eun
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of digestive diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.684
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1751-2980
pISSN - 1751-2972
DOI - 10.1111/1751-2980.12080
Subject(s) - gallstones , medicine , gastroenterology , cholecystectomy , cholesterol , body mass index
Objectives We aimed to determine the prevalence of cholesterol gallstones, the compositional changes of gallstones and its predisposing factors in Korea with this single‐center study. Methods Data of 365 patients who underwent cholecystectomy for cholecystolithiasis from J uly 2008 to S eptember 2011 were reviewed. Based on the compositional analysis of the gallstones, patients were assigned to either cholesterol gallstone group or pigment gallstone group. The characteristics of the patients and the gallstones were summarized and compared. Results After eight patients with mixed gallstones were excluded, 357 patients were enrolled in the study, including cholesterol gallstones in 175 (49.0%) and pigment gallstones in 182 (51.0%). The number of patients with cholecystolithiasis increased but the prevalence of cholesterol gallstone decreased with age. Compared with the pigment gallstone group, the cholesterol gallstone group was associated with young age (<50 years), female gender, obesity (body mass index ≥25 kg/m 2 ) and the absence of chronic liver diseases. Conclusion The relative prevalence of cholesterol gallstones in Korea has been stationary so far, but may change in the future since cholesterol gallstones are increasingly prevalent in the young generation.