Medical Health Encyclopedia

About 20% of men have gallstones by the time they reach 75 years of age. Because most cases are asymptomatic, however, the rates may be underestimated in elderly men. One study of nursing home residents reported that 66% of the women and 51% of the men had gallstones. Men who have their gallbladders removed, moreover, are more likely to have severe disease and operative complications than women.

Risks in Children

Gallstone disease is relatively rare in children. When gallstones occur in this age group they are more likely to be pigment stones. Girls do not seem to be more at risk than boys are. The following conditions may put children at higher risk:

• Spinal injury.
• History of abdominal surgery.
• Sickle-cell anemia.
• Impaired immune system.
• Intravenous nutrition.

Ethnicity

Because gallstones are related to diet, particularly fat intake, the incidence of gallstones varies widely among nations and regions. For example, Hispanics and Northern Europeans have a higher risk for gallstones than people of Asian and African descent do. (People of Asian descent who develop gallstones are most likely to have the brown pigment type.)

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Native North and South Americans, such as Pima Indians in the US and native populations in Chile and Peru, are especially prone to developing gallstones. Pima women have an 80% chance of developing gallstones during their lives and virtually all Native American females in Chile and Peru develop gallstones during their lifetimes. Such cases are most likely due to a combination of genetic and dietary factors.

Genetics

Having a family member or close relative with gallstones may increase the risk of gallstones. Up to a third of cases of painful gallstones may be related to genetic factors, although the genetics of gallbladder disease remains poorly understood. Many genes may be involved, including those that lead to obesity or other risk factors that predispose to gallstones.

Diabetes