Gallstone Disease and Its Association With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Presence of gallstone disease may influence outcomes in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We studied the impact of gallstone disease on mortality in individuals with and without NAFLD.METHODS: Prospective cohort study used the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994) with mortality data through 2015. Gallstone disease was defined as ultrasono-graphic evidence of gallstones or absence of the gallbladder (prior cholecystectomy). NAFLD was defined using standardized ultrasonographic criteria.RESULTS: Gallstone disease and cholecystectomy were independently associated with NAFLD (odds ratio [OR], 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43-2.15 for gallstone disease and OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 2.01-3.83 for cholecystectomy compared with no gallstone disease). During the median follow-up of 23 years, gallstone disease was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.19; 95% CI, 1.05-1.37) and cause-specific mortality. Gallstone disease was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality in non-NAFLD sub-cohort (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.23-1.64) but not in NAFLD (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.87-1.22). Gallstone disease was associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular-related (HR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.10-1.78) and cancer-related (HR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.18-2.48) mortality in non-NAFLD sub-cohort. Gallstone disease was associated with increased cardiovascular mortality (HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.05-1.77) in NAFLD. CONCLUSIONS: Gallstone disease is an independent risk factor for NAFLD, but gallstone disease is not associ-ated with all-cause mortality in individuals with NAFLD. Screening for gallstone disease in individuals at risk for developing NAFLD may help with risk stratification for all-cause mortality related to gallstone disease.

Automated summary

Gallstone disease is an independent risk factor for NAFLD but is not associated with all-cause mortality in individuals with NAFLD. Screening for gallstone disease may help stratify the risk of all-cause mortality related to gallstone disease.