Serum Lipid, Total Bile Acid and Total Bilirubin Levels are the Risk Factors of Gallstones

Abstract Background: The risk factors for gallstones among the population in the Meizhou area remains unclear.Methods: A total of 816 gallstone disease patients and 818 control participants was included in the study. Serum lipid levels of all participants were measured. Information recorded included age, sex, and gallstone disease risk factors.Results: Of the 1,634 enrolled individuals, with ages between 13 and 101 years, 727 were males and 907 females. The differences in serum TG (P<0.001), LDL-C (P=0.043), TBA (P<0.001), and T-BIL (P<0.001) levels between patients and controls were statistically significant. There were no statistically significant differences in age, percentage of ever drinker, the percentage of ever smokers, the prevalence of hypertension, prevalence of diabetes mellitus, serum levels of TC, HDL-C, Apo-A1, Apo-B, and Apo-A1/Apo-B between the patients and controls. There were statistically significant differences in the frequencies of gallstones in common bile duct (χ2=13.909, P<0.001), and intrahepatic bile ducts (χ2=8.289, P=0.004) between male and female patients. There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of the different gallstones sizes between male and female patients. Serum TBA (P<0.001) and T-BIL (P<0.001) levels in patients with gallstones in common bile duct higher than gallstones in gall bladder and intrahepatic bile ducts patients. Logistic regression analysis indicated that participants with high TG, LDL-C, TBA, and T-BIL had a significantly higher risk of gallstone disease.Conclusions: In general, high serum levels of TG, LDL-C, TBA, and T-BIL are the main risk factors for gallstone formation in the Meizhou area.