Prevalence of and risk factors for gallstones in female population of Novosibirsk

Aim. To investigate the prevalence of gallstones and associated factors in female population of Novosibirsk (Western Siberia). Materials and methods. A representative sample of 870 women aged 25-64 year s was drown from general population according to WHO "MONICA" protocol. The subjects were screened for the presence of gallstones by gallbladder ultra sonography, completed a questionnaire relating to food and alcohol consumpt ion, smoking, gastrointestinal symptoms and obstetric history. They also un derwent physical examination and blood chemistry rests. Age-adjusted preval ence of cholelithiasis was 9.5%. Increasing age, obesity, diabetes mellitus , consumption of animal fat, pregnancies and opisthorchiasis positively cor related with gallstones in univariate analysis. Serum lipids, family histor y of gallstones, consumption of alcohol and tobacco were not predictors of gallstones. Only association with age and obesity was significant in multiv ariate analysis. Among subjects with cholelithiasis 52.1% were not aware of having gallstones. Subjects with gallstones more frequently suffered from biliary colics and non-specific dyspeptic symptoms. However, their predicti ve value was poor. Cholecystectomyzed patients revealed more often upper ab dominal pain and dyspeptic symptoms. Conclusion. Prevalence and risk factors for gallstones in female population of Novosibirsk are similar to those reported in Western European countries . Cholecystectomy is nor recommended in patients with symptomless disease.