Prevalence, risk factors and cholecystectomy rates in gallstone disease.: Results from a population survey in Germany

Study Objective: The prevalence of gallstone disease, time trends in the frequency of cholecystectomies and risk factors for the occurrence of cholelithiasis were examined in a cross-sectional population study. Methods: The survey was based on a random sample from the populations of 4 regions in Germany, stratified by region, age and sex, information on the frequency of gallstone disease and on potential risk factors were collected by standardized interviews. For the statistical analysis, multiple logistic regression was used. Results: Overall, 1,085 persons were interviewed. The age-standardized prevalence of known gallstones was 4.2% for men and 14.5% for women. The frequency of cholecystectomy almost tripled in women from 1985 to 1994 as compared to 1975 to 198ri despite a decreasing trend in gallstone diagnoses in the same time period. No such trend was apparent in men. In men, age, body weight, changes in body weight, diabetes and use of corticosteroids were identified as risk factors for gallstone disease. ln women, gallstone disease was also associated with body weight, changes in body weight and age, and in addition, the number of births. An inverse association with gallstone disease was found for use of oral contraceptives and level ofeducationln women.