ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cholelithiasis is an important cause of morbidity in the world and it varies significantly depending on the region of study. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of cholelithiasis in Buenos Aires. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study performed in a public hospital with tertiary care in Gastrointestinal Surgery. From July 2010 to December 2011, 1,875 healthy volunteers who underwent liver, gallbladder and pancreas ultrasound imaging were included and a questionnaire containing the individuals medical history was administered. The presence of cholelithiasis and its eventual risk factors were studied. RESULTS: Of 1,875 individuals, 866 were males (46.2
) and 1,009 females (53.8
), older than 20 years old with an average age of 46.1 + 16.7 years. Cholelithiasis was found in 410 inidviduals (21.9
) diagnosed at the time of the study and 125 (67
) who had already undergone a cholecystectomy due to gallstones. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of cholelithiasis in Buenos Aires, capital city of Argentina, is 21.9
. A significant association was found between cholelithiasis and female gender, age, body mass index, history of colic pain, family history of cholelithiasis, smoking, fatty liver and number of pregnancies.