Epidemiological Trends and Burden of Gallstone Disease in the U.S.: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background Gallstone disease is a common gastrointestinal disorder in the U.S., imposing substantial healthcare costs and morbidity. The COVID − 19 pandemic may have affected its prevalence, given its impact on metabolic and gastrointestinal health. This study aimed to explore the pandemic's influence on gallstone disease prevalence by comparing pre - and post - pandemic data from NHANES. Methods Data from NHANES for the pre - pandemic (2017 - March 2020) and post - pandemic (August 2021 - August 2023) periods were analyzed. The study involved 10,984 adults aged 20 and above. Demographic, clinical, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors were evaluated. Age - standardized prevalence estimates and multivariate logistic regression were used for analysis. Results Overall, the prevalence of gallstone disease was stable. However, in certain subgroups, like higher - SES women and overweight individuals, there was a slight but significant post - pandemic decline. Unexpectedly, women with lower education levels also showed a prevalence drop. Older age, female sex, higher BMI, diabetes, and smoking were associated with the disease. Low socioeconomic status (PIR < 2) and obesity were key risk factors, while alcohol consumption was not. Conclusions Gallstone disease remains a burden, with identified demographic, metabolic, and socioeconomic risk factors. Despite overall stability, subgroup declines post - pandemic are notable. This emphasizes the need for targeted public health measures for high - risk groups. Further research on the pandemic's long - term effects on incidence and healthcare access is required.