Prevalence of cholelithiasis in a living Saudi adult female population [ultrasonic study]

ABSTRACT

To study the prevalence of asymptomatic gallstones in living adult females. Design: Prospective hospital-based study of 8 months' duration. Randomly selected asymptomatic adult females presented to King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah Outpatient clinic. All asymptomatic patients were examined ultrasonically to prove the presence or absence of gallstones. Some associated risk factors [age, parity, pills] were examined. Forty nine percent of all samples had asymptomatic gallstones. Asymptomatic gallstones were significantly associated [p less than .05] with old age, diabetes and multiparous. The prevalence of asymptomatic gallstones in our community is among the lowest in the world. However, more in-depth epidemiological studies are required