OBJECTIVES: Acute cholecystitis is an important condition when considering diagnostic possibilities for abdominal pain. There are no studies regarding the prevalence and sociodemographic characteristics of acute cholecystitis in Colombian population. Our objective was to analyze the official Ministry of Health database to determine its epidemiology in our country.

METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was based on data from the Comprehensive Social Protection Information System (SISPRO) of the Colombian Ministry of Health, covering the years 2018 to 2022. Separate analysis were done by gender, age, and region of Colombia.

RESULTS: A total of 343,254 cases (females 240,193, 69.9%) were identified in Colombia, resulting in a prevalence of 681 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, with a female-to-male ratio of 2.3:1. The highest number of cases was reported in the age group of 35 to 39 years. The departments with the highest number of cases were located in the southeast of the country, including Nariño, followed by Valle del Cauca, Caquetá, and Tolima.

CONCLUSIONS: This study presents epidemiological and sociodemographic information on acute cholecystitis in Colombia. There are limited epidemiological studies on this disease in Latin America; however, a prevalence similar to that reported in countries like the United States was found.