📄 Pages: 8-11 🏷️ Cholelithiasis 📅 January-March 2026

Background: Gallstone disease (GSD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder with rising prevalence in India, coinciding with an increasing burden of metabolic disorders. Metabolic syndrome, comprising obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and hyperglycemia, has been suggested as a potential risk factor for gallstone formation and complications. This study aimed to assess the association between metabolic syndrome and gallstone disease, with a focus on complicated versus uncomplicated cases.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted over two years at the Department of Surgery, Heritage Institute of Medical Sciences, Varanasi. Adult patients (≥18 years) with ultrasonographically confirmed gallstones were enrolled. Patients were categorized into complicated gallstone disease (CGSD) and uncomplicated gallstone disease (UGSD). Metabolic syndrome was defined using NCEP ATP III criteria. Clinical, biochemical, and ultrasonographic data were collected and analyzed using SPSS 26.0.
Results: A total of 100 patients were included, with a mean age of 33.5 ± 17.99 years; females predominated (male:female = 0.3:1). Metabolic syndrome was significantly associated with complicated gallstone disease (OR 3.986; 95% CI: 2.142–6.872; p < 0.001). Among the components of metabolic syndrome, fasting hyperglycemia and low HDL showed significant correlations with complications (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). ROC analysis indicated a limited predictive value of individual components (AUC = 0.54).
Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome is significantly associated with complicated gallstone disease, highlighting a potentially high-risk group. Early identification of patients with asymptomatic gallstones and metabolic syndrome may help prevent progression to complicated disease, emphasizing the need for integrated metabolic and gastrointestinal risk management.