Prevalence of Gallbladder Stones and the Associated Risk Factors Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients - A Cross Sectional Study at KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and MRC, Belagavi.

Abstract

Background and Objectives Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of metabolic disorders that share the phenotype of hyperglycemia. Diabetes related complications affect many organ systems and are responsible for the majority of morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. An altered glucose metabolism may increase the risk of cholelithiasis in certain subjects. The objective of the present study was to study the prevalence of gallbladder stones and the associated risk factors among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Materials and Methods The study was done on 200 patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus, admitted in KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and MRC, Belagavi over a period of one year from January 2017 to December 2017. A thorough medical history was obtained, clinical examination and investigations were performed on the study subjects. Ultrasonography of abdomen was done with special reference to gallbladder and gallstones. The statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0 software. The chi square test and the multiple logistic regression analysis were performed. Results The prevalence of gallbladder stones was 33.50%, with 67 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients having asymptomatic gallstones out of the total 200 study subjects. The mean age of the patients with gallstones was 54.67 ± 11.91 years. Out of the 67 patients who were positive for the asymptomatic gallstones, there were 29 males and 38 females. The association of prevalence of gallstones was found to be statistically significant with the BMI, HbA1c, diabetic autonomic neuropathy, total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein. In the patients with gallstones, the mean BMI was 34.39 ± 6.68 kg/m2 and mean HbA1c was 9.67 ± 2.16%. The mean total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein levels in the patients with gallstones were 225.55 ± 48.38 mg/dl, 207.64 ± 42.4 mg/dl and 144.23 ± 50.17 mg/dl respectively. Conclusion In the present study the prevalence of gallbladder stones was 33.50%, with 67 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients having asymptomatic gallstones out of the total 200 study subjects. BMI, HbA1c, diabetic autonomic neuropathy, total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein were found to be significantly associated with gallstone formation in the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This knowledge may provide an early interventional opportunity to implement adequate preventive measures and the consequent morbidity and mortality can be prevented to a greater extent.