Hepatitis C virus infection and risk of gallstones: A meta-analysis
- 29 November 2017
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine
- Vol. 10 (4), 263-270
- https://doi.org/10.1111/jebm.12277
Abstract
Gallstones and its complications are one of the most common hepatobiliary tract diseases. Several epidemiologic studies have suggested that patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection might be at an increased risk of gallstones. However, the data on this relationship remain inconclusive. This meta-analysis was conducted with the aims to summarize all available evidence. A literature search was performed using MEDLINE and EMBASE databases from inception to May 2016. Studies that reported relative risks, odd ratios, or hazard ratios comparing the risk of gallstones among HCV-infected patients versus subjects without HCV infection were included. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a random-effect, generic inverse variance method. Eleven studies met our eligibility criteria and were included in the analysis. The pooled OR of gallstones in HCV-infected patients versus subjects without HCV infection was 1.83 (95% CI, 1.35 to 2.48, I2 = 89%). Subgroup analysis showed that significant risk was increased for both male (pooled OR of 2.07, 95% CI, 1.14 to 3.76) and female (pooled OR of 3.00, 95% CI, 2.16 to 4.17). Our study demonstrated a significantly increased risk of gallstones among HCV-infected patients. Further studies are required to clarify how this risk should be addressed in the clinical picture.Keywords
This publication has 29 references indexed in Scilit:
- Are healthcare workers’ intentions to vaccinate related to their knowledge, beliefs and attitudes? a systematic reviewBMC Public Health, 2013
- Risk factors associated with symptomatic cholelithiasis in Taiwan: a population-based studyBMC Gastroenterology, 2011
- Critical evaluation of the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for the assessment of the quality of nonrandomized studies in meta-analysesEuropean Journal of Epidemiology, 2010
- Hepatitis C virus infection is a risk factor for gallstone disease: a prospective hospital‐based study of patients with chronic viral C hepatitisJournal of Viral Hepatitis, 2009
- Hepatitis C virus infection enhances insulin resistance induced by visceral fat accumulationLiver International, 2009
- Hepatitis B and C virus infection and the risk of biliary tract cancer: A population‐based study in ChinaInternational Journal of Cancer, 2007
- HCV infection is a risk factor for gallstone disease in liver cirrhosis: an Italian epidemiological surveyJournal of Viral Hepatitis, 2007
- Measuring inconsistency in meta-analysesBMJ, 2003
- Prevalence of gallbladder disease in diabetes mellitusDigestive Diseases and Sciences, 1996
- Meta-analysis in clinical trialsControlled Clinical Trials, 1986