Frequency of clinical gallstone disease among Yemenite jews in Israel

The prevalence of gallstones in Yemenites in Israel was reported in an early hospital-based study to be very low. The current prevalence of clinical gallstone disease in this population group was estimated and compared with that in a predominantly European (Ashkenazi) community by a review of 1,000 family practice medical charts in each community. The crude rate in the Yemenite community was 3.1% for those over the age 20, and the age-adjusted relative risks were 1.1 for men and 3.1 for women, compared with the control population. The regional hospital cholecystectomy rates for the Yemenite community were slightly lower than the general population, but the Yemenites were more likely to have emergency than elective surgery. The rate of positive findings and complications revealed by clinical ultrasound examinations was also higher among Yemenites than in the general population. This study corrects the mistaken impression that gallstones are a rare phenomenon among Yemenites.