Is functional gallbladder disease truly increasing? Results from the Rochester Epidemiology Project

Abstract Introduction Reports from US administrative databases showed an increase in cholecystectomy rate for functional gallbladder disorder (FGBD), a disease is not well recognized elsewhere. We aimed to identify the incidence and cholecystectomy rate for FGBD in an epidemiologically well-defined and prospectively studied population and compare results to published data. Methods After IRB approval, we extracted data from the NIH funded Rochester Epidemiology Project. We used ICD-9 codes (575.8) and (575.9) to identify patients with FGBD from 2000 to 2014. Results Between 2000 and 2014 we identified 253 patients with specified ICD-9 codes and no stones among a population of 135,000. Based on their medical records, 24 patients had confirmed FGBD, the incidence was 1.77/10,000 and cholecystectomy rate was for these patients was 70%. Conclusion The incidence of FGBD was much lower than State data with similar cholecystectomy rate. Additional investigation may be needed to understand if cholecystectomy rate is truly increasing.