Analysis of Risk Factors for Cholelithiasis: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Anusha Baddam; Ogbonnaya Akuma; Rohan Raj; Chinaza M Akuma; Sana W Augustine; Ihab Sheikh Hanafi; Gauravdeep Singh; Ahmer Zain; Nasihudeen Azizz; Manjeet Singh; Kainat Makheja; Fnu Rahul; Aadil Khan

doi:10.7759/cureus.46155

Analysis of Risk Factors for Cholelithiasis: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Cureus. 2023 Sep 28;15(9):e46155. doi: 10.7759/cureus.46155. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Authors

Anusha Baddam¹, Ogbonnaya Akuma², Rohan Raj³, Chinaza M Akuma⁴, Sana W Augustine⁵, Ihab Sheikh Hanafi⁶, Gauravdeep Singh⁷, Ahmer Zain⁸, Nasihudeen Azizz⁹, Manjeet Singh¹⁰, Kainat Makheja¹¹, Fnu Rahul¹¹, Aadil Khan^{12

13

14}

Affiliations

¹ Medicine and Surgery, Malla Reddy Medical College for Women, Hyderabad, IND.
² Internal Medicine, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, NGA.
³ Internal Medicine, Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, Patna, IND.
⁴ Medicine, College of Health Professions, Chamberlain University, Chicago, USA.
⁵ Internal Medicine, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Hyderabad, PAK.
⁶ Internal Medicine, Spartan Health Sciences University, Vieux Fort, LCA.
⁷ Medicine, Sigma Diagnostics, Khanna, IND.
⁸ General Medicine, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore, IND.
⁹ Internal Medicine, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore, IND.
¹⁰ Internal Medicine, Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College, Karachi, PAK.
¹¹ Internal Medicine, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, PAK.
¹² Trauma Surgery, OSF St. Francis Medical Centre, Peoria, USA.
¹³ Cardiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA.
¹⁴ Internal Medicine, Lala Lajpat Rai (LLR) Hospital, Kanpur, IND.

Abstract

Objectives Cholelithiasis poses a considerable medical burden worldwide. While its pathogenesis is multifactorial, identifying the key risk factors is essential for understanding the disease and improving patient care. This study aims to investigate the potential associations between demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables and the development of cholelithiasis. Methods This single-center retrospective study was conducted at Malla Reddy Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, India, over one month. A total of 200 patients diagnosed with cholelithiasis were included. Data were extracted from electronic health records and the patients using a questionnaire, including demographic information (age, gender), clinical data including body mass index (BMI), and comorbidities. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine the associations between risk factors and cholelithiasis. Results The frequency of cholelithiasis is found to be higher in the female gender and patients with obesity, sedentary lifestyle and hypertension as compared to male patients, and the risk of cholelithiasis also increases with age. Females demonstrated a higher prevalence of cholelithiasis, with an odds ratio (OR) and confidence interval (CI) of 1.4, 95% CI [1.1, 1.7], p < 0.05). Obese individuals (BMI ≥ 30) had 2.2 times higher odds of cholelithiasis compared to those with normal BMI (< 24.9) (OR = 2.2, 95% CI [1.7, 2.9], p < 0.001). The presence of diabetes significantly increased the odds of cholelithiasis by 1.6 times (OR = 1.6, 95% CI [1.2, 2.1], p < 0.01). Overweight individuals (BMI: 25-29.9) were associated with 1.4 times higher odds of cholelithiasis (OR = 1.4, 95% CI [1.1, 1.9], p < 0.05). Conclusion Our study identified age, gender, BMI, diabetes, and obesity as significant risk factors for cholelithiasis. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions and lifestyle modifications to mitigate cholelithiasis risk and improve patient outcomes. Further research, including prospective multicentric studies, must validate these findings and explore potential underlying mechanisms.

Keywords: cholelithiasis; gall bladder diseases; gallstones; obesity and diabetes; risk factors.