Gallstone disease epidemiology and demographics

The third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that 630 per 100,000 and 1420 per 100,000 men and women aged 20 to 74 respectively in the United States had gallstone disease. In the United States, every year about 1-3% (3 to 9 million people/year) of the population develop gallstones. Gallstone disease has an overall higher incidence in females than males of the Caucasian, Hispanic and Native American nations. Whilst a lower incidence was found in Eastern European, African American, and Japanese populations.

The third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that 630 per 100,000 and 1420 per 100,000 men and women aged 20 to 74 respectively in the United States had gallstone disease.^[1]

• In the United States, every year about 1-3% (3 to 9 million people/year) of the population develop gallstones.^[2]
• The incidence of choledocholithiasis is higher internationally, mainly because of parasitic infestation with liver flukes such as Clonorchis sinensis not found in the United States.

• Patients of age groups between 20 – 74 develop gallstone disease.^[1]
• The most common age group is between 40-69 years of age.

• Gallstone disease usually affects individuals of the Western Caucasian, Hispanic and Native American races.^[3][4][5][6]
• Eastern European, African American and Japanese individuals are less likely to develop Gallstone disease.

• Females are more commonly affected by gallstone disease than males.^{[1][9][10][11][12]}
• This may be due to increased estrogen levels and the use of oral contraceptive pills within the female population, which increase biliary cholesterol secretion.
• The female to male ratio is approximately 2.5 to 1.

• In Japanese men of the Sumo wrestling profession, a high incidence of gallstones was found with an increasing body mass index.^[13]

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