[Who has gallstones? Current epidemiologic studies]

Until a few years ago, our knowledge about the epidemiology of gall-stones was limited on account of the absence of diagnostic methods for investigation of extensive populations. Development of ultrasound scanning has had the result that, within the past six or seven years, a number of screening investigations for gall-stones in populations selected at random have been undertaken. These investigations reveal that the great majority of cases of gall-stones are undiagnosed. The prevalence increases with the age and is higher in women than in men. The latter observation is due to factors which are specific for women, mainly pregnancies but possibly also employment of hormones and the duration of the fertile period. Familial accumulation of gall-stone disease is also observed. Obesity, smoking and abstinence from alcohol appear also to be related to gall-stones while the significance of diet is still poorly elucidated. Gall-stones appear to be associated with both lipid and glucose metabolism. During the coming years, a series of incidence investigations may be anticipated and these will further increase our knowledge about risk factors for gall stones.