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Updated: Mar 31, 2026

Ultrasonography of the Adult Male Urinary Tract for Urinary Functional Testing
Published on: August 14, 2019
[Obesity as a risk factor for metabolic disorders in adults with urolithiasis]
Martha Medina-Escobedo1, Rogelio Alcocer-Dzul, José López-López
1Unidad de Investigación en Enfermedades Renales, Hospital General Dr. Agustín O´Horán, Servicios de Salud de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, México. marthamedinaescobedo@hotmail.com.
Background:
Yucatán ranks first in the prevalence of urinary calculi (UL), and above the national average of obesity (OB). The aim of the study was to determine whether there is an association between obesity and metabolic disorders (MD) in patients with UL.
Methods:
In a case-control design, 197 patients were studied with and without UL. Weight and height were measured; urine calcium, phosphate, magnesium, uric acid, oxalates, citrates and sodium were quantified.
Results:
197 subjects, 62 men and 135 women were studied; 114 subjects with UL and 83 without UL. Hyperuricosuria was more frequent in obese patients without UL. Hypocitraturia was the most frequent MD in patients both with and without OB, with and without UL. There was a positive trend towards a greater number of MD as weight increased. Urinary sodium excretion in patients with OB was significant.
Conclusions:
Obesity is a risk factor for MD in patients with UL. Strategies must be implemented to spread awareness on the influence of obesity on UL, and how it can be modified by diet.
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