Evidence mapPaperPMID 40197261Full record

ArticleBMC gastroenterology2025

Association between fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) and gallstones: an analysis of the NHANES 2017-2020 cross-sectional study.

Huqiang Dong, Zufa Zhang, Chang Fu, Mixue Guo, Haifeng Zhang, Xintian Cai, Hongping Cheng

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC gastroenterology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Huqiang Dong *School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, 750004, China.
Zufa Zhang *Department of Urology, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian, Liaoning, 116001, China.
Chang FuDepartment of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
Mixue GuoSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, 750004, China.
Haifeng ZhangDepartment of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, MOE Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Xintian CaiHeart, Lung and Vessels Center, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610072, China. caixt95@163.com.
Hongping ChengCenter of Health Administration and Development Studies, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, China. hbmu-hpc@qq.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGallstones are a common digestive disorder, yet the association between the fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) and gallstone formation remains poorly understood. This study explores the link between FIB-4 levels and gallstone prevalence among US adults.

methodsThis study was based on data from the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which included 7,771 participants. The association between FIB-4 and gallstone risk was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression with restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis to assess nonlinear correlations, and threshold effects analysis to identify inflection points. Robustness checks included subgroup analysis.

resultsThe weighted prevalence of gallstones in this study was 11%. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that FIB-4 levels were significantly and positively associated with the risk of gallstones. In the fully adjusted model, each unit increase in FIB-4 as a continuous variable increased the risk of gallstones by 19% (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.29). When FIB-4 was grouped by quartiles, the risk of gallstones was increased by 60% (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.25, 2.03) in the Q4 group compared to the Q1 group. RCS analysis further revealed a nonlinear positive correlation between FIB-4 and gallstones (P for nonlinear = 0.015) with an inflection point at 2.43, (P for log likelihood ratio test = 0.001). Bonferroni-corrected subgroup analyses showed that the association of FIB-4 with gallstones was statistically significant among non-Hispanic whites, those without heart failure, those without coronary heart disease, alcohol drinkers, and smokers (P < 0.00217).

conclusionIn this study, we found that elevated levels of FIB-4 were significantly and positively association with the risk of gallstones, and showed a non-linear trend. FIB-4 may have a potential application in the risk assessment of gallstones.

Indexed as

GallstonesAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansLogistic ModelsMaleMiddle AgedNutrition SurveysPrevalenceRisk FactorsUnited StatesCross-sectional studyFIB-4Fibrosis-4 indexGallstonesNHANES

Identifiers

PMID40197261
PMCPMC11977908

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.