PREVALENCE OF GALLSTONE DISEASE IN A SWEDISH POPULATION

Background: It has been claimed that the prevalence of gallstone disea se (GD) is unusually high in Sweden. The prevalence is not known in ei ther men or women. Methods: An ultrasound technique was used in a popu lation-based screening study to identify all subjects with GD and subj ects with a history of cholecystectomy. Eight hundred 40- and 60-year- old men and women were asked to participate. Results: Five hundred and fifty-six subjects were included, giving a response rate of 70%. The overall prevalence of GD was 15%. Women had a higher prevalence both a t 40 and 60 years of age-11% and 25%, respectively-as compared with me n, at 4% and 15%. Fifty per cent of subjects with GD had been cholecys tectomized. Conclusions: Gallstone disease is common in Stockholm, and the prevalence is equal to that of other European cities where simila r studies have been performed. Subjects with GD were more often cholec ystectomized than in other parts of Europe.