Research Article

Abdominal Symptoms and Incident Gallstones in a Population Unaware of Gallstone Status

Table 3

Logistic regression analyses of abdominal symptoms debut at follow-up when compared to baseline for incident gallstones (incident stones and cholecystectomy). Reference included remaining symptom-free, becoming symptom-free, and persisting symptoms throughout the study period.

Symptom debut in incident gallstone group (%)Symptom debut in gallstone-free group (%)Unadjusted OR [95% CI]1Adjusted OR [95% CI]1,2Sensitivity analysis: without cholecystectomy2,3Sensitivity analysis: without stone awareness2,4

Abdominal pain with projection10 (3.9)28 (1.1)3.72 [1.79; 7.75]3.05 [1.43; 6.49]2.53 [1.12; 5.74]1.62 [0.61; 4.35]

Pain localizationUnder right rib6 (2.3)33 (1.3)1.86 [0.77; 4.48]1.43 [0.58; 3.54]0.99 [0.34; 2.90]0.76 [0.23; 2.54]
Under right rib with projection to back/right shoulder3 (1.2)5 (0.2)6.14 [1.46; 25.8]3.94 [0.90; 17.2]1.53 [0.17; 13.5]No events
Epigastrium17 (6.6)121 (4.7)1.45 [0.86; 2.45]1.34 [0.78; 2.30]1.29 [0.74; 2.23]1.15 [0.64; 2.05]
Epigastrium with projection to back/right side3 (1.2)20 (0.8)1.52 [0.45; 5.17]1.20 [0.35; 4.18]1.23 [0.35; 4.27]0.87 [0.20; 3.86]
Whole upper abdomen7 (2.7)12 (0.5)6.04 [2.36; 15.5]5.54 [2.02; 15.2]5.65 [2.06; 15.5]3.24 [0.96; 10.9]
Whole upper abdomen with projection to back1 (0.4)2 (0.1)5.08 [0.46; 56.2]3.09 [0.27; 35.5]3.18 [0.28; 36.5]No events

Pain characteristicsFrequency, weekly/daily9 (3.5)90 (3.5)1.01 [0.50; 2.03]0.78 [0.38; 1.59]0.80 [0.39; 1.64]0.63 [0.29; 1.40]
Duration, hours/days21 (8.2)115 (4.4)1.92 [1.19; 3.12]1.86 [1.13; 3.07]1.71 [1.02; 2.88]1.48 [0.85; 2.58]
Intensity, moderate/extreme20 (7.8)183 (7.1)1.12 [0.69; 1.80]0.98 [0.60; 1.60]0.89 [0.54; 1.49]0.83 [0.48; 1.42]
Pain medication, often/every time7 (2.7)44 (1.7)1.63 [0.73; 3.65]1.24 [0.54; 2.84]1.08 [0.45; 2.62]0.58 [0.18; 1.93]
Pain at night13 (5.1)155 (6.0)0.84 [0.47; 1.50]0.74 [0.41; 1.33]0.70 [0.38; 1.30]0.49 [0.24; 1.02]

Functional symptomsDyspepsia nausea type3 (1.2)31 (1.2)0.98 [0.30; 3.23]0.73 [0.22; 2.47]0.75 [0.22; 2.54]0.80 [0.24; 2.69]
Dyspepsia regurgitation type5 (2.0)57 (2.2)0.89 [0.35; 2.23]0.79 [0.31; 2.01]0.65 [0.23; 1.82]0.49 [0.15; 1.61]
Irritable bowel syndrome5 (2.0)39 (1.5)1.30 [0.51; 3.34]0.92 [0.35; 2.41]0.95 [0.36; 2.49]0.78 [0.27; 2.25]
Change in number of stools per week50.0 [−0.5; 2.0]0.0 [−1.0; 1.0]1.01 [0.97; 1.05]1.02 [0.98; 1.07]1.02 [0.98; 1.07]1.02 [0.97; 1.06]

(total) = 2,848 (minus missing in adjusted analyses), (incident stones) = 250, (cholecystectomy) = 6, and (stone-free) = 2,592.
2Adjusted for baseline sex, age, BMI (interaction with sex), units of alcohol per week, social groups I + II–V, cohabitant status, and changes in consumption of alcohol units per week (interactions with sex).
3 (total) = 2,842, (incident stones) = 250, and (stone-free) = 2,592.
4 (total) = 2,805, (incident stones) = 239, and (stone-free) = 2,565.
5Models also include baseline number of stools per week.