Chronological changes of epidemiologic features of gallstone over last 20years in Korean single large volume center

Abstract

Introduction: South Korea is one of the prevalent nations of gallstone, which is very common disease around the world. In this study, we aim to investigate the epidemiological characteristics and changing patterns of gallstone over last 20 years in Korea. Method: From 1996 to 2015, 5,808 patients who underwent cholecystectomy due to gallstone in Seoul National University Hospital were analyzed. Patients were divided into four subgroups by time periods: period 1 (1996 to 2000, n=792), period 2 (2001 to 2005, n=1,215), period 3 (2006 to 2010, n=1,525), period 4 (2011 to 2015, n=2,276). Gallstones were classified in to 5 types (pure cholesterol stone, mixed cholesterol stone, calcium bilirubinate stone, black pigment stone and combination stone). Result: Female to male ratio was 1.158 with a mean age of 53.57, 55.25 years old. The ratio of cholesterol stone to pigmented stone was 0.963 : 1(2849 and 2959). The mean age and male to female ratio of patients was increased over time. The proportion of cholesterols vs pigmented stone was no statistically significant difference. In subgroup of gallstones, the proportion of black pigments stone was increased (34.0% to 45.5%), but that of calcium bilirubinate stone was decreased (20.7% to 5.3%). On the aspect of patients’area, calcium bilirubinate stone decreased in both urban and rural area, black pigment stone was increased in both urban and rural area. Conclusion: The number of patients with gallstone was increased. Age and sex of patients and type of gallstone were changed over time. This study can be used as an important reference for epidemiological studies.