Assessment of the role of general, biochemical and family history characteristics in kidney stone formation

Saudi J Biol Sci. 2015 Jan;22(1):65-8. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2014.06.002. Epub 2014 Jun 12.

Abstract

Aim: The main objective of the study was to determine the urinary risk factors involved in kidney stone formation.

Method: In this study a total number of 101 patients (64 males and 37 females) between the age group 2 and 70 years were selected. Personal characteristics like age, family history, clinical sign and symptoms, education, monthly income, living style, smoking or tobacco chewing habit, dietary intake and daily amount of drinking water were recorded.

Results: The study showed that the risk of kidney stone formation was high in the median age group (16-25 years) both in male and female population. The most important factors associated with this were lack of drinking clean water, over weight and obesity as well as family history (37.5% and 27.02% in men and women, respectively).

Conclusion: Our study has confirmed that lack of drinking sufficient amount of water, increasing weight and obesity and family history are some major factors contributing to the increased risk of kidney stone formation. Therefore it is very important to live a healthy life, drink clean water and control weight to prevent such diseases.

Keywords: Kidney stone formation; Nephrolithiasis; Risk factors; Water intake.