A study of alcohol consumption and obesity as main risk factor for symptomatic gallbladder stone: A case-control study

Background: Gallbladder stone (GBS) is a common gastrointestinal disease that can progress to severe cholecystitis and is a strong risk factor for gallbladder cancer (GBC). The present study was conducted to evaluate region-specific causes of GBS which was proved as major risk factor for GBC in Jeju Island, Korea. Methods: Age and sex match case-control study was performed among 171 pairs of case and controls. The cases were patients who were diagnosed with GBS, had definite clinical symptoms, and underwent a cholecystectomy in Cheju Halla General Hospital, Jeju, Korea during 2010-2014. The control group included 1:1 age and sex-matched participants without GBS at the Health Promotion Center in the same institute during the same period. We compared the histories of previous chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, vascular occlusive diseases, or parity), alcohol consumption (standard drinks/week [SDW]), smoking habits, body mass index (BMI), and presence of concomitant polypoid lesions of the gallbladder. Results: A dose-dependent positive relationship existed between BMI and the risk of GBS: BMI 23-27.4 kg/m², OR=2.5, p=0.24; 27.5-29.9 kg/m², OR=8.9, p=0.002; ≥30 kg/m², OR=7.2, p=0.004. A negative correlation existed between alcohol consumption and the risk of GBS: Standard drinks per week (SDW), OR=0.24, p=0.002; 15-29.9 SDW, OR=0.26, p=0.022; =30 SDW, OR=0.2, 95% p=0.005. Conclusion: The present results suggest that a higher BMI and less alcohol consumption are associated with a risk of symptomatic GBS.