FREQUENCY OF RENAL STONES IN PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE: A DESCRIPTIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Chronic kidney disease is a major global health concern, and renal stone disease is recognised as both a contributor to and a complication of declining kidney function. Local data on the burden of nephrolithiasis among chronic kidney disease patients in Pakistan remain limited.

Objectives: To determine the frequency of renal stones in patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and to identify their associated demographic and clinical correlates.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Nephrology, Liaquat National Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, from 04 October 2025 to 04 January 2026. A total of 226 patients aged 18–60 years with confirmed chronic kidney disease were enrolled through consecutive sampling. Renal stones were diagnosed using ultrasonography. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26. The Shapiro–Wilk test assessed normality. Independent samples t-test, Mann–Whitney U test and Chi-square test were applied as appropriate; p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The mean age was 40.63 ± 12.23 years, and 144 (63.7%) participants were male. Renal stones were identified in 36 patients (15.9%). A significant association was observed with prior history of chronic kidney disease (83.3% vs 32.6%; p<0.001) and vitamin D supplementation (75.0% vs 37.9%; p<0.001). Age, gender and residential status showed no significant association (p>0.05).

Conclusions: Renal stones were present in approximately one in six chronic kidney disease patients and were significantly associated with a prior history of kidney disease and vitamin D supplementation. Targeted screening and metabolic evaluation in such patients may aid early detection and prevention.