Prevalence of gallstones among university teachers and related risk factors: A multicenter study / 临床肝胆病杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence rate of gallstones among university teachers in Tianjin, China, and related risk factors. MethodsPhysical examination data were collected from the teachers from five universities who participated in physical examination in Physical Examination Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, in 2015, and abdominal ultrasound was used for the diagnosis of gallstones. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the risk factors for gallstones in the teachers from different universities, and a meta-analysis was used for the pooled analysis of prevalence rate and risk factors. ResultsA total of 8006 university teachers were enrolled, among whom 440 were diagnosed with gallstones, and the pooled prevalence rate of gallstones was 5.5%. The meta-analysis showed that hypertension (odds ratio ［OR］=1.67, 95% confidence interval ［CI］ 1.32-2.12, P＜0.001), fatty liver (OR=1.39, 95%CI 1.12-1.72, P＜0.001), kidney stones (OR=1.90, 95%CI 1.15-3.14, P=0.01), and high levels of hexokinase (OR=1.42, 95%CI 1.03-1.94, P=0.03), alanine aminotransferase (OR=1.32, 95%CI 1.01-1.73, P=0.04), and globulin (OR=1.74, 95%CI 1.08-2.79, P=0.02) were risk factors for gallstones. ConclusionThere is a relatively low prevalence rate of gallstones among university teachers in Tianjin, and hypertension, fatty liver, kidney stones, and high levels of hexokinase, alanine aminotransferase, and globulin may be the risk factors for gallstones.