Liver Function‐Related Indicators and Risk of Gallstone Diseases—A Multicenter Study and a Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Abstract

Purpose of the study: We aim to examine the association between liver function‐related indicators and gallstone disease (GSD) risk.Study design: The subjects who participated in the China Multicenter Physical Examination Cohort (CMPEC) were enrolled. Relative odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs and standardized mean differences (SMDs) were applied to investigate the effect of liver function‐related indicators and GSD risk. Moreover, a systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted until July 2021. Additionally, the results in the CMPEC and the systematic review and meta‐analysis were combined by meta‐analysis. Finally, the results were validated by a cohort study of the UK Biobank (UKB).Results and conclusions: Totally, 369,931 subjects in CMPEC were included in the study. A total of 28 publications were incorporated into the systematic review and meta‐analysis. The pooled analysis suggested that aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP), and low albumin (ALB) were positively associated with the risk of GSD. Meanwhile, GSD present to have higher AST, ALT, gamma‐glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin (TBil), globulin (G), and ALP levels and relatively lower TP and ALB levels than the healthy participants. These results were consistent when stratified by the study design, geographic background, and study quality. Only the association between ALP and GSD risk was validated in the UKB cohort. This study suggests liver function indicators were associated with GSD risk. The results may provide the basis for exploring the etiology of GSD and may help clinicians identify high‐risk subjects.Trial Registration: PROSPERO (CRD42020179076).