The prevalence of gallstone disease is increasing in Korea. Gallstone disease and atherosclerosis share common risk factors. Ultrasonographic carotid intima-media thickness is an independent predictor of atherosclerosis. We measured the carotid intima-media thickness among men who had gallstones to establish the association between atherosclerosis and gallstones.

A total of 330 men who visited the health promotion center of the IS Hallym Hospital from January 2011 to July 2012 were recruited. Both abdomen and carotid ultrasonographies were performed. Demographic, anthropometric, and biochemical data were collected.

The prevalence of gallstones was 6.6%. The carotid intima-media thickness, age, and body mass index were higher in subjects with gallstones (P < 0.05 for all). After Pearson correlation analysis, gallstone, age, body mass index, and fasting blood sugar were significantly associated with carotid intima-media thickness. A statistically positive association between gallstone and carotid intima-media thickness was demonstrated in a multivariate analysis adjusted for age, body mass index, and fasting blood sugar.

Carotid intima-media thickness is higher in male subjects with gallstones, indicating that they are at greater risk for atherosclerosis.

The purpose of this study was to investigate how educational status influences cardiovascular risk factors and care of diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

From Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey IV, we obtained survey results of 6,835 men and 9,067 women more than 30 years old. We performed multivariate logistic regression to compare cardiovascular risk factors and care of hypertension and diabetes respective to educational status.

There were disparities in cardiovascular risk factors by educational status. In men, impaired fasting glucose, high triglyceride, and smoking were less frequently found in the highest educated group than in the middle educated group. In women, the prevalence of abdominal obesity, impaired fasting glucose, high blood pressure, high triglyceride, and metabolic syndrome among the highest educated group were significantly lower. The proportion of those with proper physical activity in the highest educated group was found to be less than that of the middle educated group, regardless of gender. For care of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, disease recognition and treatment were lower among the lowest educated group in men, while these disparities were not shown in women. Instead, the lowest educated group in diabetic women received screening exams for eye and kidney complications less than the middle education group. In both genders, the high education group had a higher chance of receiving education about diabetes mellitus.

There were educational disparities in cardiovascular risk factors and care of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The disparities were found to be different by gender.