Cholecystectomy and colon cancer in the elderly

The incidence of colon cancer is increasing in Sweden. This is partly due to the increase of the older segments of the population. Various risk factors, such as diet, low serum cholesterol and, more recently, cholecystectomy have been found. Earlier studies, particularly regarding cholecystectomy, were carried out on in-patients of varying ages. In this longitudinal study, a representative sample of people investigated at the ages of 70 and 75 was analysed with regard to earlier cholecystectomy. Twenty-two per cent of women and 11% of men at the ages of 70 and 75 years were found to have had this operation. A relationship between cholecystectomy and colon cancer was found for women but not for men. The cholecystectomized women had low serum cholesterol values. The female colon cancer cases were related to a high body weight. Cholecystectomized individuals can be regarded as a special group with risk factors for colon cancer.