Risk factors of gallstone disease in Inner Mongolia populations: a case-control study

Objective To investigate the risk factors of gallstone disease in Inner Mongolia populations. Methods A case-control study was conducted in 180 consecutive patients who had undergone cholecytectomy for gallstones in the hospital of Inner Mongolia during December 2010 to December 2011.Another 200 patients (age 19 to 81 years old) with no gallstone disease were enrolled as controls.All the participants completed a questionnaire and took physical or ultrasonographic examinations.Univariate analysis and Multivariate logistic regression analysis were used for data analysis. Results Mean age of the study group and the control group was (51.7±13.2) and (54.6±12.1) years old, respectively.More female patients were found in the study group (130∶50, χ2=9.552, P<0.05). After adjusting age and gender, multivariate logistic regression showed that gallstone disease was significantly associated with higher educational level (OR=7.05; 95% confidence internal (CI): 1.28-38.85), animal viscera intake (OR=12.75, 95% CI: 4.67-34.82), fried food intake (once and twice a week: OR=9.04, 95% CI: 4.67-17.51; twice a week: OR=5.39, 95% CI: 1.60-18.21) and dyslipidaemia (OR=2.81, 95% CI: 1.49-5.30). Vegetables intake (2-3 times a week: OR=0.28, 95% CI: 0.03-2.65; 4-5 times a week: OR=0.09, 95% CI: 0.01-0.80; once a day: OR=0.02, 95% CI: 0.002-0.19) was inversely associated with gallstone disease.Risk factors of gallstone disease were different by genders. Conclusions Animal viscera or fried food intake and dyslipidaemia may increase the risk of gallstone disease.However, vegetables intake may prevent the development of gallstone disease. Key words: Cholelithiasis; Risk factors; Case- control studies