EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE AND RISK FACTORS OF UROLITHIASIS: INSIGHTS FROM AN INDIAN COHORT

Abstract

Urolithiasis is a common multifactorial disorder with increasing global prevalence. Dietary habits, metabolic abnormalities, environmental exposure, and genetic predisposition have an important role in the stone formation. The precise identification of risk factors is very essential for the prevention and reduction of disease recurrence. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the demographic, dietary, lifestyle and metabolic factors associated with urolithiasis among the patients attending a tertiary care centre in South India. Hospital based case control study conducted among 240 participants including 120 radiologically confirmed urolithiasis patients and 120 age and sex comparable controls without the history of urinary stones disease. Data of demographic profile, dietary habits, BMI, Medical comorbidities, lifestyle and family history are collected using questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done using Chi square test, we also assessed univariate analysis and multivariate analysis, odds ratio (OR) with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were calculated respectively. Male predominance was observed among the cases 68.3%. Overweight and obesity were significantly more common in the cases p=0.002. Univariate analysis had demonstrated significant association between urolithiasis and hard water consumption, carbonated beverages, oxalate rich food consumption, black tea, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and urinary tract infection, gout and positive family history. Multivariate logistic regression analysis had identified positive family history (AOR=3.82) carbonated beverage (AOR= 2.94), history of urinary tract infection (AOR=2.63), oxalate rich food intake (AOR =2.31), obesity (AOR =2.21), hypertension (AOR=2.05), diabetes mellitus (AOR =1.94) and hard water consumption accounted (AOR=1.89) independent predictors of urolithiasis. the findings of the study highlight that multifactorial nature of urolithiasis and the importance of dietary modification, adequate hydration, metabolic control and risk factors based preventive strategies to decrease disease burden and recurrence.