Prevalence of cholelithiasis in Buenos Aires, Argentina. / Prevalence of cholelithiasis in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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