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 years was drawn from general population according to WHO "MONICA" protocol. The subjects were screened for the presence of gallstones by gallbladder ultrasonography, completed a questionnaire relating to food and alcohol consumption, smoking, gastrointestinal symptoms and obstetric history. They also underwent physical examination and blood chemistry tests. Age-adjusted prevalence of cholelithiasis was 9.5%. Increasing age, obesity, diabetes mellitus, consumption of animal fat, pregnancies and opisthorchiasis positively correlated with gallstones in univariate analysis. Serum lipids, family history of gallstones, consumption of alcohol and tobacco were not predictors of gallstones. Only association with age and obesity was significant in multivariate 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 predictive value was poor. Cholecystectomized patients revealed more often upper abdominal 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 not recommended in patients with symptomless disease.