RISK FACTORS FOR DEVLEOPMENT OF GALLBLADDER DISEASE

Abstract

Gallbladder disease (GBD) is a global health problem with wide international variation in its prevalence. Based on autopsy studies; GBD appears to be more prevalent in the developed countries e.g. Malmo, Sweden (37.1%) than in the developing ones e.g. Accra, Ghana (0%). Nevertheless with the advent of the real time ultrasonography the picture is different. GBD is a major contributor to morbidity in Western countries. Nearly half a million are cholecystectomised annually with high health costs. GBD ranks the third and seventh most frequent diagnosis within the departments of surgery and medicine respectively. A broad spectrum of risk factors have been documented to be associated with GBD. These are either modifiable or non modifiable in nature. The non modifiable risk factors include age, gender, race, ethnic group and family history of GBD. The modifiable factors are environmental in origin. They include obesity, hyperlipidemia, dietary preferences, physical activities, habits (alcoholism, smoking, drinking of tea & coffee,.... etc), repeated pregnancy & parity and use of some medications (e.g. pills, hypolipidemics,..... etc). These environmental risk factors are amenable to changes that might suggest strategies for reduction and/or prevention of GBD.