[Epidemiology of urolithiasis for improving clinical practice]

Urolithiasis is a common nephrologic disorder with an increasing prevalence, probably attributable to lifestyle factors such as diet and obesity. A nationwide survey of urolithiasis in Japan conducted in 2005 showed a steady increase in the number of urolithiasis cases, and the associated life-long risk was estimated to be 15.1% in men and 6.8% in women. Because urolithiasis is a complex disease, an understanding of the epidemiology, particularly of the interactions among different factors, may facilitate the development of measures to reduce the risk of stone formation. In this article, we describe the epidemiologic data and related topics from a nationwide survey in Japan and other studies.