Abstract
BackgroundGallstone disease is a common surgical entity worldwide and accounts for a major portion of hospital admissions and surgeries. Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed when three of the following medical conditions are positive: central obesity, high blood pressure, increased fasting glucose levels, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and high serum triglycerides.ObjectiveTo compare the frequency of metabolic syndrome in patients with uncomplicated gallstone disease and complicated gallstone disease.Study designObservational, cross-sectional study.MethodologyA total of 104 patients, above age 18 years, visiting the outpatient department (OPD) or the emergency department, diagnosed as having gallstone disease. The study was conducted in surgical unit VI, civil hospital Karachi from June 2014 to June 2015. Patients’ demographics, abdominal waist circumference, blood pressure, serum fasting blood sugar, triglyceride level and HDL levels were recorded. Final outcome was labeled as presence or absence of metabolic syndrome. Presence of metabolic syndrome was compared in patients with complicated gallstone disease as well as in patients with uncomplicated gallstone disease. Chi square test was used to detect statistical significance and a p-value of <0.05 was taken as significant.ResultsThe ages were comparable between the two groups, that is, the complicated and uncomplicated gallstone disease at 42.42 +/- 12.15 years in the former and 39.24 +/- 10.41 years in the latter group. Metabolic syndrome was more predominant in the complicated arm 40.38% when compared to uncomplicated arm 25% but it was not significant statistically with a p-value of 0.2.ConclusionMetabolic syndrome is associated with complicated gallstone disease though this study failed to reach statistical significance due to small sample size, it re-enforces the findings of previous studies. It is an easily assessable and useful measure to predict complications associated with gall stone disease.
Highlights
Gallstone disease is a common surgical entity worldwide [1] and accounts for a major portion of hospital admissions and surgeries and is a major cause of morbidities in both the developed and the developing nations
Metabolic syndrome is associated with complicated gallstone disease though this study failed to reach statistical significance due to small sample size, it re-enforces the findings of previous studies
A recent study identified the presence of metabolic syndrome as a risk factor for complicated gallstones disease [8]. This finding is significant as those patients who have incidental cholelithiasis together with metabolic syndrome may benefit from prophylactic cholecystectomy in order to reduce the morbidity associated with the complicated gallstone disease
Summary
Gallstone disease is a common surgical entity worldwide and accounts for a major portion of hospital admissions and surgeries. Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed when three of the following medical conditions are positive: central obesity, high blood pressure, increased fasting glucose levels, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and high serum triglycerides
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