Gallstone disease ups risk of IBD

People with gallstone disease are at higher risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), regardless of other traditional risk factors, according to a study.

A combined analysis of three prospective cohort studies (Nurses' Health Study, Nurses' Health Study II, and UK Biobank) was conducted, along with a case-control study (Chinese IBD Etiology Study). 

The authors explored the link between gallstone disease and IBD risk using Cox logistic regression or conditional logistic regression, adjusting for demographic characteristics, lifestyle, comorbidities, and medication use.

A total of 3,480 IBD patients were identified in the three cohort studies. Those with gallstone disease showed a 38-percent increase in IBD risk (hazard ratio [HR], 1.38, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.21–1.59), 68-percent increase in Crohn’s disease risk (HR, 1.68, 95 percent CI, 1.38–2.06), and a 24-percent increase in ulcerative colitis risk (HR, 1.24, 95 percent CI, 1.03–1.49).

In the case-control study, the association between gallstone diseases and IBD risk showed a greater magnitude of effects (IBD: odds ratio [OR], 3.03, 95 percent CI, 2.32–3.97; Crohn’s disease: OR, 5.31, 95 percent CI, 3.71–7.60; ulcerative colitis: OR, 1.49, 95 percent CI, 1.07–2.06).

No significant differences were seen in the estimated associations between the presence of unremoved gallstones and prior cholecystectomy with IBD risk.

“Further research is needed to confirm these associations and clarify the underlying biological mechanisms,” the authors said. 

“Gallstone diseases affect intestinal inflammation, bile flow, and gut microbiota, which in turn may increase the risk of IBD,” they noted.