由于二者关系密切,急性胆囊炎的分布和发病率跟胆石症类似。
胆石症在成年人中的发病率大概是 10%-15%。在美国,预计有 2000-2500 万人患有胆结石,每年进行的胆囊切除术约 750,000 例。[4]Stinton LM, Shaffer EA. Epidemiology of gallbladder disease: cholelithiasis and cancer. Gut Liver. 2012 Apr;6(2):172-87.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3343155/pdf/gnl-6-172.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22570746?tool=bestpractice.com 非洲和亚洲发病率相对低。[5]Shaffer EA. Gallstone disease: epidemiology of gallbladder stone disease. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2006;20(6):981-96.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17127183?tool=bestpractice.com 大多数胆结石患者没有出现症状。每年约 1%-2% 的无症状性胆结石患者出现症状。[6]Friedman GD. Natural history of asymptomatic and symptomatic gallstones. Am J Surg. 1993 Apr;165(4):399-404.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8480871?tool=bestpractice.com[7]Freidman GD, Raviola CA, Fireman B. Prognosis of gallstones with mild or no symptoms: 25 years of follow-up in a health maintenance organization. J Clin Epidemiol. 1989;42(2):127-36.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2918322?tool=bestpractice.com在有症状的患者中,约 10% 出现急性胆囊炎。[8]Ko CW, Lee SP. Gastrointestinal disorders of the critically ill. Biliary sludge and cholecystitis. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2003 Jun;17(3):383-96.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12763503?tool=bestpractice.com 在 50 岁及以下的患者中,女性发病率为男性的 3 倍,在 50 岁以上的患者中,女性发病率约为男性的 1.5 倍。[3]Indar AA, Beckingham IJ. Acute cholecystitis. BMJ. 2002 Sep 21;325(7365):639-43.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1124163/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12242178?tool=bestpractice.com 在 2009-2010 年间,英国报道有 16,884 人患有胆囊炎。[9]National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement. Gallstones and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. September 1992 [internet publication].http://consensus.nih.gov/1992/1992GallstonesLaparoscopy090html.htm
急性非结石性胆囊炎占急性胆囊炎的 5%-14%。[3]Indar AA, Beckingham IJ. Acute cholecystitis. BMJ. 2002 Sep 21;325(7365):639-43.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1124163/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12242178?tool=bestpractice.com 其发病率在重症监护病房患者中更高,尤其是烧伤和创伤病房的患者。