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]1
Adjusted OR [95% CI]1,2
Sensitivity analysis: without cholecystectomy2,3
Sensitivity analysis: without stone awareness2,4
Abdominal pain with projection
10 (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 localization
Under right rib
6 (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 shoulder
3 (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
Epigastrium
17 (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 side
3 (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 abdomen
7 (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 back
1 (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 characteristics
Frequency, weekly/daily
9 (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/days
21 (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/extreme
20 (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 time
7 (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 night
13 (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 symptoms
Dyspepsia nausea type
3 (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 type
5 (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 syndrome
5 (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 week5
0.0 [−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.
