Cholelithiasis and its relation to body mass index and waist to hip ratio: an observational study

Abstract

Background: There is increased incidence of gall stones and its variable presentations in India is a great need for a study which can provide information regarding risk factors associated with the formation of gallstones, prevalence of disease, clinical presentations and outcome of cholelithiasis. So present study done to find a relationship between body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) with cholelithiasis.Methods: The observational study was conducted in tertiary care center of SGRD Amritsar comprised of 100 patients diagnosed with pain abdomen by cholelithiasis and control comprised of 100 patients with any other cause of pain abdomen. All patients were evaluated for BMI and waist to hip ratio. BMI was calculated according to the standard formula (Quetelet’s index). The WHR was measured according to WHO protocol. Statistical tests were applied as quantitative variables were compared using unpaired t-test/Mann-Whitney test (when the data sets were not normally distributed) between the two groups. Qualitative variables were compared using chi-Square test /Fisher’s exact test.Results: A significant association of formation of gall bladder stones in female gender in comparison to their male counterpart and increased chances of formation of gall bladder stones in the patients having higher BMI and higher WHR.Conclusion: Female gender and obesity is associated with increased risk of cholelithiasis.