Obesity as a Risk Factor for Biliary Lithiasis - Clinical Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to bring new data regarding the prevalence of biliary lithiasis in our region (Cluj district) and regarding the role of obesity as a risk factor for this pathology. We performed a clinical study which included a significant number of participants - 2348 subjects. For each subject an ultrasonographical screening was performed in order to detect biliary lithiasis and to collected anthropometric data (height, weight, and body mass index). We determined the prevalence of obesity in the groups of lithiasic or non-lithiasic subjects. The study included adult subjects with age between 18 and 90. The results show an increased prevalence of obesity in the group of lithiasic subjects (40.15%, 95%CI [34.05 – 46.98]) compared with non-lithiasic group (19.65%). Comparing the results on feminine and masculine groups we observed that obesity was present in 32.16% (95%CI [24.48 – 40.56]) of the lithiasic and only 19.48% of the non-lithiasic females while in the masculine group 53.93% of lithiasic men were obese (95%CI [42.71 – 64.03]) and only 19.84% of the non-lithiasic. The results lead to the conclusion that in studied area obesity is a major risk factor for biliary lithiasis in both sexes, with a plus for the masculine sex where more than 50% of lithiasic men were obese. Obesity is a risk factor which can be controlled. In order to prevent the appearance of gallbladder gallstones it is very important to control obesity by an active way of life and a balanced alimentation.