Ethnic variability in cholelithiasis--an autopsy study.

By reviewing 3,506 autopsy records to determine the prevalence of gallbladder disease among San Francisco county coroner cases for 1981 and 1982, we found an overall prevalence rate of 92.7 per 1,000. After confirming age as a significant risk factor (P </=.0001), the data were age adjusted and then analyzed using a stepwise logistic regression. Women were found to have a twofold to threefold greater prevalence compared with men. Latina women showed a higher prevalence than whites, blacks or Asians. Black women did not have a significantly higher prevalence than the white sample. Actual to ideal weight was also significantly related to the presence of gallbladder disease.