Patients with gallstones develop gallbladder cancer at an earlier age

Significant proportions of Indian patients with gallbladder cancer are young. Multiple risk factors for gallbladder cancer are recognized among Indian patients. The effect of these risk factors on the age of development of gallbladder cancer is not known. We conducted a study to determine the influence of risk factors on the age at diagnosis of patients with gallbladder cancer and to assess the interactions between these risk factors. Patients with gallbladder cancer from two tertiary care institutions during the period 1994-2001 were prospectively studied. An ultrasound examination was done to look for the presence of gallstones. The influence of gender, gallstones, socioeconomic status, smoking, residence in rural areas and in the Gangetic belt on the age at presentation was analysed using univariate analysis, logistic and linear regression analyses. The mean age of the 121 patients studied was 55±11.7 (SD) years. There were 51 (42%) patients aged less than 50 years. The younger patients (age ≤ 50 years) were more likely to have gallstones (88 versus 66%; P = 0.008) and to have come from a lower socio-economic background (88 versus 71%; P=0.02) in comparison with older patients. However, there was no effect of the other risk factors. The independent determinants for younger age of patients with gallbladder cancer on logistic regression analysis were gallstones [odds ratio (OR) 4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5-11; P = 0.006] and lower socioeconomic status (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.1-8.6; P=0.03). On linear regression analysis, age at presentation was lowered by 5.6 years if there were associated gallstones. The mean age of patients with these two risk factors was significantly lower than that of those with one risk factor or no risk factor (52±12 years versus 57±11 years versus 61±9 years; P = 0.007). In conclusion, the presence of gallstones and lower socio-economic status were both independently associated with a younger age at diagnosis of gallbladder cancer and their effect was additive.