Gallstone Disease May Raise Heart Disease Risk

US Pharm. 2016;41(9):12.

New Orleans, LA—The risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) may be increased by a history of gallstone disease, researchers at Tulane University have concluded. The association between the two was investigated by analyzing data from >840,000 patients, including >51,000 CHD cases. A history of gallstone disease raised the risk of CHD by 23%. When shared risk factors were accounted for, CHD incidence remained higher in patients with gallstone disease, supporting a direct connection. Patients with a history of gallstone disease who were otherwise healthy (no obesity, diabetes, or high blood pressure), surprisingly, had a greater CHD risk than patients with these conditions. The reason for the link between gallstone disease and CHD was not identified, but gallstones may affect bile acid secretion, which is related to cardiovascular risk factors.