Prevalence of Gallstones at Autopsy at the Institutes of Forensic Medicine in Aarhus and Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1944-1985

Abstract

The prevalence of gallstones and the post-cholecystectomy state in a material of forensic autopsies was reviewed in five series from 1944-46 to 1985, with a total of 5031 cases. Analysed in a multiple logistic regression program with gallstones and post-cholecystectomy state as response variable, and sex, age, manner of death, and calendar years as explanatory variables, the data showed no interactions, with the exception of the manner of death, which may have a different effect (NS) on the two sexes. The prevalence, which was more than halved from 1954-56 to 1985 (p < 10 ⁴), was more than twice as high for women as for men, and it increased with age (p < 10⁻⁴). However, the later the calendar period, the less steep the prevalence increase with age. A subdivision in accordance with the cause of death (natural or by accident) showed an association between death-causing disease and gallstones for men (p = 10⁻³) but no significant difference for women.

Key Words:

• Epidemiology
• forensic autopsy
• gallstone prevalence