Gallstone disease may be nearly twice as common in women compared with men, with significant differences in risk factors by sex, according to a recent study.

In the MAUCO cohort study, published in BMJ Open Gastroenterology, investigators assessed sex disparities in gallstone disease (GSD) among 8,948 participants aged 38 to 74 residing in Chile. The overall prevalence of GSD was 40.4% in women and 17.1% in men. Among women, 13.1% had gallstones, whereas 27.3% had undergone cholecystectomy. In men, 8.9% had gallstones, and 8.2% had undergone cholecystectomy.

Age was a significant risk factor for GSD in men, with a prevalence rate ratio (PRR) of 3.85 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.00–4.94) among those over 64 years compared with a PRR of 1.78 (95% CI = 1.57–2.01) among women of the same age group. In women, waist circumference, diabetes, and having more children were associated with an increased GSD prevalence. In men, cardiovascular disease, a family history of GSD, and gallbladder cancer were key risk factors.

During follow-up, 198 incident GSD cases were identified. The incidence of GSD increased by 2% (95% CI = 1.005–1.03) per centimeter increase in waist circumference, which was statistically significant in women but not in men. Age and family history of GSD remained the strongest predictors of incident GSD in men.

Abdominal obesity was identified as a modifiable risk factor, particularly among women. The findings showed that GSD is prevalent in Chile, with a higher prevalence in women, many of whom had undergone cholecystectomy.

Full disclosures can be found in the published study.