The effect of season and Ramadan fasting on the onset of acute cholecystitis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether Ramadan fasting and seasonal variation has any effect on the onset of acute cholecystitis.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Faghihi and Namazee Hospitals between September 1999 to August 2004. All files of patients with definite diagnosis of gallstone induced acute cholecystitis were reviewed for age, gender, date and method of treatment in relation to seasons and Ramadan fasting month. For comparison, we used Shaaban months (prior months) and Shavval months (following months).

RESULTS: Eight hundred and sixty-four files (32.7% male and 62.8% were female) with definite diagnosis of acute cholecystitis were reviewed. Mean age was 56.3 ± 16.18 years. The frequency of acute cholecystitis was higher in summer in comparison with other seasons. The difference in the frequency of acute cholecystitis in Ramadan in comparison with Shaaban and Shavval months was not considerable.

CONCLUSION: Acute cholecystitis displays seasonal characteristics; however, this seasonal variability would be influenced by other unknown environmental and genetic factors. Ramadan fasting may not precipitate the onset of acute cholecystitis.