The epidemiology of cholelithiasis in southern Italy

Abstract

Objective To describe the prevalence and incidence of gallstones in a population sample from a typical Mediterranean area. Subjects and methods: A sample of 3500 subjects (2000 men and 1500 women, aged 30–69 years) was selected by systematic sampling from the electoral register of Castellana, a small town in southern Italy. Between May 1985 and June 1986, 2472 (70.6%) subjects (1429 men and 1043 women) had their gall bladders checked for gallstones by ultrasonography. Between May 1992 and June 1993, 1962 (87.7%) of the subjects without gallstones (1162 men and 800 women) agreed to be re-examined by ultrasonography. Results A total of 226 subjects (92 men and 134 women) had gallstones, a prevalence rate of 9.2% (6.5 and 12.9% in men and women, respectively). On re-examination, 104 subjects (55 men and 49 women) had developed gallstones; an incidence rate of 7.9 per 1000 person-years (7.1 and 9.1 per 1000 person-years in men and women, respectively). Prevalence and incidence increased with age in both sexes but were higher in women than in men at all ages. Conclusion This study suggests that the population of Castellana has a high incidence of cholelithiasis compared with populations studied in central and northern Italy and northern Europe.