Gut Liver.  2007 Dec;1(2):138-144.

Is Metabolic Syndrome One of the Risk Factors for Gallbladder Polyps Found by Ultrasonography during Health Screening?

• Lim SH
• Kim DH
• Park MJ
• Kim YS
• Kim CH
• Yim JY
• Cho KR
• Kim SS
• Choi SH
• Kim N
• Cho SH
• Oh BH

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We conducted this study to identify the risk factors for finding gallbladder polyps (GBP) in Korean subjects during health screening, and to determine the nature of the association between the presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and the development of GBP.
METHODS
A total of 1,523 subjects were enrolled, comprising 264 with GBP (81 women and 183 men) and 1,259 controls (696 women and 563 men with normal GB). Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), insulin, fasting blood sugar (FBS), lipids, liver enzymes, hepatitis B antigens (HBs Ag), and hepatitis C antibodies (HCV Ab) were measured. MS was considered to be present when three or more of the NCEP-ATPIII (National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III) criteria were satisfied. Insulin resistance was calculated by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Independent risk factors were analyzed by logistic regression analysis.
RESULTS
Univariate analysis revealed that the risk factors for GBP were age, sex, WC, smoking history, BP, BMI, FBS, serum lipids, HOMA-IR score, and MS. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk factors for GBP were presence of MS (Odds Ratio (OR)=2.35, 95%Confidence Interval (CI)=1.53-3.60), being male (OR=2.34, 95%CI=1.72-3.18), HOMA-IR score>2.5 (OR=1.64, 95%CI=1.19-2.26), and higher WC (OR=1.4, 95%CI=1.05-1.88). MS was present in 20.8% and 5.9% of GBP patients and controls, respectively, and was the highest risk factor for GBP.
CONCLUSIONS
MS, male, insulin resistance, and abdominal obesity are probably risk factors for GBP, with MS appearing to be strongly associated with GBP in Koreans.

Keyword

Gallbladder polyp; Risk factor; Metabolic syndrome; Insulin resistance

MeSH Terms

Blood Glucose
Blood Pressure
Body Mass Index
Cholesterol
Education
Fasting
Female
Gallbladder*
Hepatitis B Antigens
Hepatitis C Antibodies
Homeostasis
Humans
Insulin
Insulin Resistance
Liver
Logistic Models
Male
Mass Screening*
Obesity, Abdominal
Polyps*
Risk Factors*
Smoke
Smoking
Ultrasonography*
Waist Circumference
Blood Glucose
Cholesterol
Hepatitis B Antigens
Hepatitis C Antibodies
Insulin
Smoke