Prospective Study
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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 28, 2014; 20(40): 14942-14949
Published online Oct 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i40.14942
Prevalence of and risk factors for gallstones in Uighur and Han Chinese
Li Zhu, Aikebaier Aili, Cheng Zhang, Aili Saiding, Kelimu Abudureyimu
Li Zhu, Aikebaier Aili, Aili Saiding, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830000, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
Li Zhu, Aikebaier Aili, Cheng Zhang, Aili Saiding, Kelimu Abudureyimu, Department of Minimally Invasive Hernia and Abdominal Surgery, People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi 830000, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
Author contributions: Zhu L and Abudureyimu K designed the research; Zhu L, Aili A, Zhang C, and Saiding A performed the research and analyzed the data; Zhu L wrote the paper.
Supported by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region’s Natural Science Foundation, No. 200821118
Correspondence to: Kelimu Abudureyimu, Chief Physician, Professor, Department of Minimally Invasive Hernia and Abdominal Surgery, People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, No. 91, Tianchi Road, Urumqi 830000, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. zhuliuygur@163.com
Telephone: +86-991-8563906 Fax: +86-991-8563906
Received: March 8, 2014
Revised: July 5, 2014
Accepted: August 13, 2014
Published online: October 28, 2014
Abstract

AIM: To perform a single-centre survey of the prevalence of and possible risk factors for gallstones in Uighur and Han Chinese.

METHODS: Complete medical data for 9455 patients were collected from the medical centre of our hospital, and the overall prevalence of gallstones as well as the prevalence in different ethnic groups was studied. The risk factors for gallstones in different ethnic groups were identified in a univariate analysis, and variables with statistical significance were analysed by unconditional multiple logistic regression, to primarily explore the similarities and differences in gallstone risk factors between different ethnic groups.

RESULTS: The prevalence of gallstones was significantly higher in the Uighur population than in the Han population (22.87% vs 11.64%, P < 0.05). Further analysis of risk factors for gallstones based on the different ethnic areas revealed that age was a risk factor for gallstones in both groups; triglycerides, body-mass index (BMI) and high-density lipoprotein were risk factors for gallstones in the Han population, while total cholesterol (TC), gender and fatty liver were risk factors in the Uighur population. The Uighur patients were older than the Han patients, and had higher BMI, TC, low-density lipoprotein, female rate and fatty liver rate, while the incidence of hypertension was lower than that in the Han patients.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of and risk factors for gallstones differ between the Uighur and Han populations.

Keywords: Gallstones, Risk factors, Prevalence

Core tip: The prevalence of gallstones in the Uighur population is higher than that in the Han population in Xinjiang, but there are few relevant epidemiological data or risk analysis reports. This single-centre case-control study enrolled healthy people to compare and analyse the risk factors for gallstones in Uighur and Han patients. The results suggest that age is a risk factor in both populations. Total cholesterol, gender and fatty liver are risk factors in the Uighur population, but in the Han population, those with elevated triglycerides, reduced high-density lipoprotein and obesity are at greater risk for gallstones.