Prevalence of Gallstones in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Ultrasonography at Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar

Abstract

Background: Gallstone disease is a prevalent hepatobiliary disorder with considerable clinical and economic implications, influenced by demographic, metabolic, and regional factors. Despite its burden, regional epidemiological data from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remain limited, particularly among patients undergoing routine ultrasonography. Objective: To estimate the prevalence and sonographic characteristics of gallstones and to analyze their association with age, sex, and clinical symptoms among patients undergoing abdominal ultrasonography at Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 245 consecutive patients of all ages referred for abdominal ultrasonography. Standardized fasting ultrasonography was performed using a 3–5 MHz curvilinear probe to assess gallstones, their number, location, and gallbladder size. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22, applying chi-square tests and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals; significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Gallstones were identified in 82 patients (33.5%), with slightly higher prevalence in females (35.5%) than males (30.8%) (p = 0.442). Prevalence rose significantly with age (p < 0.001), peaking at 50.0% in the 41–50 year group. Most stones were multiple (89.0%) and located within the gallbladder lumen (85.4%), while gallbladder enlargement showed no significant association with stone presence (p = 0.989). Conclusion: Gallstones were common among patients undergoing ultrasonography, predominantly affecting middle-aged adults and characterized by multiple intraluminal stones. These findings highlight the importance of age-targeted evaluation, structured ultrasound reporting, and further analytical studies to refine risk assessment and management strategies for gallstone disease.