Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOverviewHow Common Is It?By EthnicityBy Age and GenderCauses and Risk FactorsMortality RatesScreening and Early DetectionA Word From Verywell
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Overview
How Common Is It?
By Ethnicity
By Age and Gender
Causes and Risk Factors
Mortality Rates
Screening and Early Detection
A Word From Verywell
Gallbladder diseaseis any condition affecting the health of thegallbladder(ie., the digestive sac located under your liver). It is most commonly associated withgallstones, which affects some 25 million Americans, about 10%—15% of the adult population.
In this article, you’ll learn more about who gets gallbladder disease and why, when to see a healthcare provider, and the benefits of early screening for gallbladder disease.
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Gallstone (Cholelithiasis) Symptoms and Causes
Gallbladder diseases generally include gallbladder inflammation and gallstones. An inflamed gallbladder cannot function properly. Gallstones are formed when bile creates blockages in the digestive tract. This blockage causes intermittent pain in the upper right abdomen, under the rib cage. Over time, symptoms can worsen and lead to gallbladder scarring and hardening, as well as infection.
Gallbladder diseases include:
Gallbladder Disease
How Common Is Gallbladder Disease?
Gallbladder disease is very common. There are an estimated 1.8 million hospital visits per year for gallbladder diseases. This number is said to be an underestimate of the medical burden because most gallbladder problems are addressed so soon after they start.
Age and gender can influence the incidence of gallbladder disease.
Age
The risk of gallbladder disease increases with age. A person’s risk of gallbladder disease increases 4 to 10 times after they reach age 40.The makeup and appearance of gallstones can change with age, too. While gallstones in younger persons are more commonly made up of cholesterol, in older populations it’s more common to find gallstones with black pigment.
Advanced age also increases the risk of health complications associated with having gallstones or gallbladder disease, say researchers.
Gender
Cisgender women are said to be twice as likely to develop gallbladder disease than cisgender men. This is particularly true during the female reproductive years.The gender gap begins narrowing during later life post-menopause years. These findings suggest sex hormones such as estrogen play a role in risk of developing gallbladder disease.
Therapies that affect sex hormone levels (i.e., oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy) can increase your chance of developing cholesterol gallbladder stones.
Causes of Gallbladder Disease and Risk Factors
Most commonly the cause of gallbladder disease isgallstones.While ethnicity, age, and gender play a role in gallbladder disease development, there are other risk factors you should know about.
Additional risk factors for gallstones include:
Causes and Risk Factors of Gallbladder Disease
What Are the Mortality Rates for Gallbladder Disease?
Having gallbladder disease increases overall mortality (death) and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease.A study found that the mortality rate for gallbladder disease is 16.5%.
Mortality rates increase if gallbladder disease goes untreated. This is because gallstones can lead to serious health complications, including developing gallbladder cancer.
It was estimated that more than 12,000 new cases of gallbladder cancer would be diagnosed in 2022 in the United States.Mortality rates for gallbladder cancer are higher than for gallbladder disease. Part of the higher risk of mortality is due to cancer typically being detected in later stages, after spreading.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) adds that only about 1 in 5 gallbladder cancers is found in the early stages, before the cancer has had a chance to spread. Mortality rates are directly associated with time of detection.
Most gallbladder diseases are treatable with surgery and most people recover in about six weeks.
Gallbladder Cancer Screening
When found early, there’s a 66% five-year survival rate, meaning on average, someone who is diagnosed at this early stage (when the cancer is still localized), has a 66% chance of living five more years. If screening and early detection are missed, and the gallbladder cancer is found after spreading to what’s called a “distant” location, the five-year survival rate drops to 2%.
Survival rates are estimates based on data averages. Bear in mind your personal risk factors are more complex and your healthcare provider can provide a more accurate picture of your prognosis.
Survival Rates Based on Gallbladder Cancer StageGallbladder Cancer Stage5-Year Survival RateLocalized (remaining where it began)66%Regional (some spreading)28%Distant (cancer has spread far)2%All stages combined (average rate)19%Gallbladder surgery complications are very rare, so the benefit of treatment far outweighs risk. Removing gallstones also reduces risk of developing gallbladder cancer, although gallbladder cancer is still rare even in people with gallstones.Gallstone (Cholelithiasis) Symptoms and CausesSummaryGallbladder disease refers to several types of diseases affecting the health and functioning of the gallbladder. These diseases result in inflammation and gallstone formation. Gallstones are common, and the risk for developing them increases with age.Gallbladder disease also can develop from taking certain medications or health conditions that impact gallbladder functioning. A healthcare provider can detect and remove any gallstones you may have. This effectively reduces the risk of getting other health complications, including rare gallbladder cancer.A Word From VerywellGallbladder diseases are serious, but they can be treated. If you experience any symptoms of gallbladder disease, don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider to treat it before it gets more serious.
Gallbladder surgery complications are very rare, so the benefit of treatment far outweighs risk. Removing gallstones also reduces risk of developing gallbladder cancer, although gallbladder cancer is still rare even in people with gallstones.
Summary
Gallbladder disease refers to several types of diseases affecting the health and functioning of the gallbladder. These diseases result in inflammation and gallstone formation. Gallstones are common, and the risk for developing them increases with age.
Gallbladder disease also can develop from taking certain medications or health conditions that impact gallbladder functioning. A healthcare provider can detect and remove any gallstones you may have. This effectively reduces the risk of getting other health complications, including rare gallbladder cancer.
Gallbladder diseases are serious, but they can be treated. If you experience any symptoms of gallbladder disease, don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider to treat it before it gets more serious.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Battleboro Memorial Hospital.Gallbladder disease: A modern illness on the rise.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gallbladder disease.Stinton LM, Shaffer EA.Epidemiology of gallbladder disease: Cholelithiasis and cancer.Gut and liver. 2012;6(2):172–187. doi:10.5009/gnl.2012.6.2.172National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition and facts for gallstones.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition and facts for gallstones.American Gastroenterological Association.Gallstones.Shabanzadeh DM, Sørensen LT, Jørgensen T.Gallstone disease and mortality: A cohort study.International journal of public health. 2017;62(3),353–360. doi:10.1007/s00038-016-0916-7Ruhl CE, Everhart JE.Gallstone disease is associated with increased mortality in the United States.Gastroenterology. 2011;140(2):508-516. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2010.10.060American Cancer Society.Risk factors for gallbladder cancer.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for gallbladder cancer.Dempsey DT, Agrawal S.Open cholecystectomy. Ashley SW, ed. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate.Cleveland Clinic.Gallbladder disease.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for gallbladder cancer.NIDDK.Treatment for gallstones.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Battleboro Memorial Hospital.Gallbladder disease: A modern illness on the rise.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gallbladder disease.Stinton LM, Shaffer EA.Epidemiology of gallbladder disease: Cholelithiasis and cancer.Gut and liver. 2012;6(2):172–187. doi:10.5009/gnl.2012.6.2.172National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition and facts for gallstones.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition and facts for gallstones.American Gastroenterological Association.Gallstones.Shabanzadeh DM, Sørensen LT, Jørgensen T.Gallstone disease and mortality: A cohort study.International journal of public health. 2017;62(3),353–360. doi:10.1007/s00038-016-0916-7Ruhl CE, Everhart JE.Gallstone disease is associated with increased mortality in the United States.Gastroenterology. 2011;140(2):508-516. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2010.10.060American Cancer Society.Risk factors for gallbladder cancer.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for gallbladder cancer.Dempsey DT, Agrawal S.Open cholecystectomy. Ashley SW, ed. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate.Cleveland Clinic.Gallbladder disease.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for gallbladder cancer.NIDDK.Treatment for gallstones.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Battleboro Memorial Hospital.Gallbladder disease: A modern illness on the rise.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gallbladder disease.Stinton LM, Shaffer EA.Epidemiology of gallbladder disease: Cholelithiasis and cancer.Gut and liver. 2012;6(2):172–187. doi:10.5009/gnl.2012.6.2.172National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition and facts for gallstones.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition and facts for gallstones.American Gastroenterological Association.Gallstones.Shabanzadeh DM, Sørensen LT, Jørgensen T.Gallstone disease and mortality: A cohort study.International journal of public health. 2017;62(3),353–360. doi:10.1007/s00038-016-0916-7Ruhl CE, Everhart JE.Gallstone disease is associated with increased mortality in the United States.Gastroenterology. 2011;140(2):508-516. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2010.10.060American Cancer Society.Risk factors for gallbladder cancer.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for gallbladder cancer.Dempsey DT, Agrawal S.Open cholecystectomy. Ashley SW, ed. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate.Cleveland Clinic.Gallbladder disease.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for gallbladder cancer.NIDDK.Treatment for gallstones.
Battleboro Memorial Hospital.Gallbladder disease: A modern illness on the rise.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gallbladder disease.
Stinton LM, Shaffer EA.Epidemiology of gallbladder disease: Cholelithiasis and cancer.Gut and liver. 2012;6(2):172–187. doi:10.5009/gnl.2012.6.2.172
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition and facts for gallstones.
American Gastroenterological Association.Gallstones.
Shabanzadeh DM, Sørensen LT, Jørgensen T.Gallstone disease and mortality: A cohort study.International journal of public health. 2017;62(3),353–360. doi:10.1007/s00038-016-0916-7
Ruhl CE, Everhart JE.Gallstone disease is associated with increased mortality in the United States.Gastroenterology. 2011;140(2):508-516. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2010.10.060
American Cancer Society.Risk factors for gallbladder cancer.
American Cancer Society.Key statistics for gallbladder cancer.
Dempsey DT, Agrawal S.Open cholecystectomy. Ashley SW, ed. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate.
Cleveland Clinic.Gallbladder disease.
American Cancer Society.Survival rates for gallbladder cancer.
NIDDK.Treatment for gallstones.
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