Impact of nephrolithiasis on kidney function

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Urology
• Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:

• Kidney stone disease is linked to diminished kidney function and chronic kidney disease (CKD).
• Recurrent kidney stone formers may have increased risks for cardiovascular issues, hypertension, and diabetes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate kidney function, body mass index (BMI), and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes in individuals with recurrent kidney stones.
• To compare these health markers between recurrent kidney stone formers and a control group.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, case-control study involving 195 recurrent kidney stone patients and 390 matched controls.
• Evaluated kidney function using serum creatinine (SCr) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
• Compared body mass index (BMI) and prevalence of comorbid conditions (hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease) between groups.

Main Results:

• Recurrent kidney stone formers showed significantly higher SCr and lower eGFR compared to controls (p < 0.001).
• The prevalence of CKD was substantially higher in stone formers (9.3%) versus controls (1.3%) (P < 0.001).
• Hypertension and diabetes were more common in stone formers, who also had higher BMI.

Conclusions:

• Recurrent kidney stone formers demonstrate significantly impaired kidney function and a greater prevalence of CKD.
• The negative impact of kidney stones on kidney function appears to be independent of comorbid conditions like hypertension and diabetes.