[Clinico-epidemiologic study of urolithiasis in a Caribbean urban area]

Urolithiasis is a common clinical disorder. Its frequency has risen with the development of humanity and varies wirl the country, geographic area, etc. It poses health problems in most countries. The urolithiasis has some potential risk factors such as intrinsic and extrinsic epidemiological, metabolic, physic-chemistry of the urine, mechanics and urinary infection. Our objective in this epidemiological study in a general population was to know the frequency, the potential risk factors, the morbidity, and social and economical impact of the urolithiasis in our subtropical Caribbean country. The prevalence was 4.64% and the annual incidence was 0.1%. Both are with in the estimated range of urolithiasis frequency in the world. It mainly started between 20 and 29 years in both genders. The white (5.2%) and the male (6.36%) patients were the most affected. 40% of all patients had a family history of urolithiasis. It was highly associated with diabetes mellitus, ischaemic cardiopathy, urinary tract infection and arterial hypertension. Stone formation was related to the warmer season. High calcium, protein-purine, carbohydrates and oxalic acid intake together with low fluid intake were closely associated with this disorder. 85% of patients had suffered renal colic and 75% of them more than once. Stone recurrence affected 33.8% of patients and 54.5% of them had more than one recurrence. Procedures for stone removal were needed in 33.8% of subjects. 40% of all patients were admitted to hospital due to urolithiasis morbidity. Non-specific medical treatment had been taken by 49.2% of the patients and specific treatment by none. Urolithiasis in this population was the some as has been reported in others studies. It has shown high frequency, increasing incidence, the same risks factors, high morbidity, and high social and economical impact. The low cost treatment is only taken by half of the patients.