[Epidemiology of gallstone disease in Mexico].
Prevalence of gallstone disease in autopsies from Mexico is 14.3%, 8.4% in men and 20.4% in women respectively. Frequency of cholelithiasis has increased remarkably from 12.2% in 1950 to 15.8% in 1980 (p < 0.05). Population of low socioeconomic status is apparently more affected. Obesity is the clinical association more frequently found in the population studied. Cholesterol gallstones showed the highest frequency. Economic cost of this disease is high. We conclude that gallstone disease is a public health problem for our country.