RISK-FACTORS FOR GALLSTONE DISEASE IN MEXICANS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE FOUND IN MEXICAN-AMERICANS

According to epidemiological studies, gallstone disease is a very comm on disease in Mexican-Americans and Mexicans. However, the major risk factors for cholelithiasis in Mexicans have not been identified. We de signed a case-control study in a group of Mexican subjects with and wi thout gallstone disease confirmed by ultrasound. These subjects were p rospectively studied over a three-year period. Clinical and epidemiolo gical data were collected by means of a questionnaire. A total of 1500 subjects were included in this study: 1000 with and 500 without galls tone disease. The major risk factor in both men and women was body mas s index [odds ratio (OR) 1.64 and 1.96, respectively; P < 0.008 and 0. 001]. In addition, parity was an important factor in women (OR 2.17, P < 0.001), whereas age was associated with gallstone disease in men (O R 1.43, P < 0.001). We found that body mass index, parity, and age wer e the principal risk factors for gallstone disease in this group of Me xican subjects, These results are similar to those found in Mexican-Am erican populations.