The association between life’s essential 8 and gallstones: A cross-sectional study

Abstract This study investigates the relationship between Life’s Essential 8 (LE8), a measure of cardiovascular health (CVH), and the risk of gallstones in adult Americans. We analyzed data from 5,024 participants aged 20 and older, using information from the 2017–2020 National Health and Nutrition...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yang Zhao, Xuesong Liu, Jingru Han, Bin Feng, Chowtin Yan, Jianfu Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89024-x
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Summary:Abstract This study investigates the relationship between Life’s Essential 8 (LE8), a measure of cardiovascular health (CVH), and the risk of gallstones in adult Americans. We analyzed data from 5,024 participants aged 20 and older, using information from the 2017–2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Gallstone presence was determined via a standard questionnaire. LE8 scores, representing four health behaviors (sleep, tobacco/nicotine exposure, physical activity, and diet) and four health factors (body mass index, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood glucose, and blood pressure), were categorized into low, moderate, and high CVH groups. Weighted logistic regression, restricted cubic splines (RCS), and stratified analyses were used to assess the association between LE8 and gallstones. Of the 5,024 participants, 543 (11.22%) had gallstones. In fully adjusted models, participants with high CVH (LE8 ≥ 80) had a 59% lower risk of gallstones compared to those with low CVH (LE8 < 50) (OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.23–0.72, P = 0.010). RCS analyses suggested a nonlinear relationship between LE8 and gallstones. Stratified analysis showed a stronger association in participants under 65 (OR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.15–0.44), females (OR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.24–0.81), those with higher education (OR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.19–0.78), non-white individuals (OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.13–0.60), and married participants (OR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.20–0.80). Higher CVH, as measured by LE8, is associated with a lower risk of gallstones among adult Americans.
ISSN:2045-2322