Association of sleep disorder with increased risk of gallstone disease in adults in the United States: A cross-sectional study of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2017–2020)

Objective Sleep disorder is prevalent in modern society and has been linked to multiple adverse health outcomes; however, evidence regarding its association with gallstone disease remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the association between sleep disorder and gallstones among adults in the United States. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from 7438 adults in the United States aged ≥20 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2017–2020). The relationship between sleep disorder and gallstones was assessed using multivariable logistic regression models, with sensitivity analyses performed using multiple imputation, weighted analysis, and propensity score matching. Results Among all participants, 780 (10.5%) reported gallstones. Individuals with sleep disorder had significantly higher odds of gallstones (odds ratio = 1.49, 95% confidence interval = 1.26–1.76, p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses demonstrated consistent associations across different subgroups based on sex, age, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, with interaction observed in age subgroups. Conclusion Our findings suggest that sleep disorder is independently associated with gallstones. These results highlight the importance of identifying and managing sleep problems in individuals at risk of gallstone disease; however, longitudinal studies are needed to clarify causal pathways.