Prevalence and Incidence of Gallstones
Prevalance of Gallstones:
16 to 22 million people in the USA 1976-87 (Digestive diseases in the United States: Epidemiology and Impact – NIH Publication No. 94-1447, US Government Printing Office, NIDDK, 1994) ... see also overview of Gallstones.
Prevalance Rate:
approx 1 in 17 or 5.88% or 16 million people in USA [Source statistic for calcuation: "16 to 22 million people in the USA 1976-87 (Digestive diseases in the United States: Epidemiology and Impact – NIH Publication No. 94-1447, US Government Printing Office, NIDDK, 1994)" -- see also general information about data sources]
Gallstones Prevalence: Book Excerpts
Prevalance of Gallstones:
Symptomatic gallstones result in 600,000 hospitalizations
and more than 500,000 operations each year in the United States.
(Source: excerpt from Dieting and Gallstones: NIDDK)
...
Prevalence: 16 to 22 million people (1976-87) (Source: excerpt from Digestive Diseases Statistics: NIDDK)
Prevelance of Gallstones discussion:
One in ten Americans has gallstones. However, most people with
gallstones don't know they have them and experience no symptoms. (Source: excerpt from Dieting and Gallstones: NIDDK)
Prevalence/Incidence of Gallstones: Online Medical Books
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE!
Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration,
for more information about the prevalence and/or incidence of Gallstones.
Cholelithiasis and related disorders:
Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Cholelithiasis, stones or calculi (gallstones) in the gallbladder, results from changes in bile components. Gallstones are made of cholesterol, calcium bilirubinate, or a mixture of cholesterol and bilirubin pigment. They arise during periods of sluggishness in the gallbladder due to pregnancy, hormonal contraceptives, diabetes mellitus, celiac disease, cirrhosis of the liver, and pancreatitis. Cholelithiasis is a common health problem, affecting about 1 out of every 1,000 people. The prognosis is usually good with treatment unless infection occurs, in which case the prognosis depends on its severity and response to antibiotics.
One out of every 10 patients with gallstones develops choledocholithiasis, or gallstones in the common bile duct (sometimes called “common duct stones”). This occurs when stones passed out of the gallbladder lodge in the hepatic and common bile ducts and obstruct the flow of bile into the duodenum. Prognosis is good unless infection occurs.
Cholangitis, infection of the bile duct, is commonly associated with choledocholithiasis and may follow percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography or occlusion of endoscopic stents. Predisposing factors may include bacterial or metabolic alteration of bile acids. Widespread inflammation may cause fibrosis and stenosis of the common bile duct. The prognosis for this rare condition is poor without stenting or surgery.
Cholecystitis, acute or chronic inflammation of the gallbladder, is usually associated with a gallstone impacted in the cystic duct, causing painful distention of the gallbladder. Cholecystitis accounts for 10% to 25% of all patients requiring gallbladder surgery. The acute form is most common during middle age; the chronic form usually occurs among elderly patients. The prognosis is good with treatment.
Cholesterolosis, polyps or crystal deposits of cholesterol in the gallbladder’s submucosa, may result from bile secretions containing high concentrations of cholesterol and insufficient bile salts. The polyps may be localized or speckle the entire gallbladder. Cholesterolosis, the most common pseudotumor, isn’t related to widespread inflammation of the mucosa or lining of the gallbladder. The prognosis is good with surgery.
Biliary cirrhosis, ascending infection of the biliary system, sometimes follows viral destruction of liver and duct cells, but the primary cause is unknown. This condition usually leads to obstructive jaundice and involves the portal and periportal spaces of the liver. It’s nine times more common among women ages 40 to 60 than among men. The prognosis is poor without liver transplantation.
Gallstone ileus results from a gallstone lodging at the terminal ileum; it’s more common in the elderly. The prognosis is good with surgery.
Postcholecystectomy syndrome commonly results from residual gallstones or stricture of the common bile duct. It occurs in 1% to 5% of all patients whose gallbladders have been surgically removed and may produce right upper quadrant abdominal pain, biliary colic, fatty food intolerance, dyspepsia, and indigestion. The prognosis is good with selected radiologic procedures, endoscopic procedures, or surgery.
Acalculous cholecystitis is more common in critically ill patients, accounting for about 5% of cholecystitis cases. It may result from primary infection with such organisms as Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, or Clostridium or from obstruction of the cystic duct due to lymphadenopathy or a tumor. It appears that ischemia, usually related to a low cardiac output, also has a role in the pathophysiology of this disease. Signs and symptoms of acalculous cholecystitis include unexplained sepsis, right upper quadrant pain, fever, leukocytosis, and a palpable gallbladder.
Each of these disorders produces its own set of complications. Cholelithiasis may lead to any of the disorders associated with gallstone formation: cholangitis, cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis, and gallstone ileus. Cholecystitis can progress to gallbladder complications, such as empyema, hydrops or mucocele, or gangrene. Gangrene may lead to perforation, resulting in peritonitis, fistula formation, pancreatitis, limy bile, and porcelain gallbladder. Other complications include chronic cholecystitis and cholangitis.
Choledocholithiasis may lead to cholangitis, obstructive jaundice, pancreatitis, and secondary biliary cirrhosis. Cholangitis, especially in the suppurative form, may progress to septic shock and death. Gallstone ileus may cause bowel obstruction, which can lead to intestinal perforation, peritonitis, septicemia, secondary infection, and septic shock.
In most cases, gallbladder and bile duct diseases occur in people who are older than age 40 and are more prevalent in women and Native Americans.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Cholelithiasis:
Cholelithiasis - epidemiology
(The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult)
- Cholelithiasis is relatively uncommon in childhood and adolescence. However, gallstones occurring in utero have been described.
- Obesity accounts for up to 1/3 of the gallstones observed in all children and the majority of children with no underlying medical conditions. Obesity is estimated to increase the risk of gallstones in children by over 4-fold.
- Canadian Eskimos and Native Africans have the lowest risk of cholelithiasis.
- Native Americans, Swedes, and Czechs have the highest risk.
- Pigment stones are more prevalent in prepubertal children, whereas cholesterol stones are predominant in adolescence and adulthood.
Cholelithiasis - prevalence
- The prevalence of cholelithiasis in children and adolescents reported in the literature is approximately 0.1–0.6%.
- In obese children, the prevalence is 2%.
- In children with sickle cell disease, the prevalence is 17–29%.
- The prevalence of gallstones in North American and European adults is 10–20%.
Cholelithiasis - incidence
- In females, the incidence of cholelithiasis is 0.27% between the ages of 6 and 19 years increasing to 2.7% between the ages of 18 and 29.
- In males, the incidence of gallstones remains negligible throughout childhood and adolescence.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 2008
Colic:
Colic - epidemiology
(The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult)
Incidence and prevalence estimates difficult due to lack of standard definition. Incidence figures of 10–15% typically cited in texts.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 2008
About prevalence and incidence statistics:
The term 'prevalence' of Gallstones usually refers to the estimated population
of people who are managing Gallstones at any given time.
The term 'incidence' of Gallstones refers to the annual diagnosis rate,
or the number of new cases of Gallstones diagnosed each year.
Hence, these two statistics types can differ:
a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence,
but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence.
For more information see about prevalence and incidence statistics.
If you've ever experienced an asthma attack, you know how frustrating and unpleasant it can be. And since anything from strong perfume to extreme...
There are two basic types of medications used to treat migraines: drugs to prevent migraines from occurring and drugs to treat the headache once it...
Sexual contact can sometimes result in problems. An unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases may be some of those consequences. But by...
Health insurance is important to everyone, especially people with chronic conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Tune in to...
See full list of 4 related videos
» Next page: Videos related to Gallstones
Rate This Website
What do you think about the features of this website?
Take our user survey and have your say:
Website User Survey
Medical Tools & Articles:
Next articles:
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
Forums & Message Boards
- Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
