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Nephrolithiasis in women: how different from men?
Lada Beara-Lasic1, David S Goldfarb
1Nephrology Division, NYU Langone Health, NYU School of Medicine, and New York Harbor VA Healthcare System, New York, New York, USA.
Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension
|December 3, 2019
Summary
Kidney stone incidence is rising in women, with pregnancy, obesity, and environmental factors playing key roles. Further research is needed to understand the complex causes of kidney stones in both men and women.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Urology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Kidney stones are more prevalent in men than women, but this gap is narrowing.
- The reasons for sex-based differences in kidney stone prevalence are not fully understood.
- Rising stone incidence in women and adolescent girls warrants further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence on sex-based differences in kidney stone formation.
- To explore speculative causes for the increasing prevalence of kidney stones in women.
- To examine the influence of environmental and biological factors on kidney stone disease.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing studies on kidney stones in men and women.
- Analysis of epidemiological data on stone incidence trends.
- Synthesis of evidence regarding genetic and environmental influences.
Main Results:
- Stone incidence is increasing in women and adolescent girls.
- Kidney stone disease is more heritable in men; women are more influenced by environmental factors.
- Pregnancy, obesity, bariatric surgery, and dieting are associated with increased stone risk in women.
- Women exhibit higher urinary pH and citrate levels and differ in calcium handling compared to men.
Conclusions:
- The etiology of kidney stones in men and women is complex and multifactorial.
- Changes in the female environment may contribute to the rising incidence of kidney stones, especially in younger women and adolescents.
- Further research is essential to elucidate the precise causes and develop targeted prevention strategies.
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