Epidemiology of Acute Cholecystitis in Colombia: An Analysis of Official Records from the Ministry of Health

Introduction: Acute cholecystitis is one of the most common complications of cholelithiasis. In Colombia, there are no studies on its prevalence or the sociodemographic characteristics of the affected population. Objectives: To establish the prevalence of acute cholecystitis in Colombia and describe the associated sociodemographic characteristics. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the individual service provision records (RIPS) from 2018 to 2022. Results: A total of 343,254 cases of acute cholecystitis were identified in Colombia, with a prevalence of 681 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and a female-to-male ratio of 2.3:1. The highest number of reported cases was in the 34 to 39-year age group. The departments with the most cases are located in the southeast of the country, including Nariño, Valle del Cauca, Caquetá, and Tolima. Conclusion: This study presents epidemiological and sociodemographic information on acute cholecystitis in Colombia. There are few epidemiological studies on this disease in Latin America, however, the prevalence found is similar to that reported in countries like the United States.