Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 1, 2025
03:56
A Two-Step Method for Percutaneous Transhepatic Choledochoscopic Lithotomy
Published on: September 13, 2022
2.4K
Potential for Urolithiasis-related Research Using the Novel Medicare-Litholink Database
Noah A Krampe1, Mary K Oerline1, John R Asplin2
1Dow Division of Health Services Research, Department of Urology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Urology Practice
|April 27, 2023
Summary
This study linked Medicare claims with 24-hour urine results for urolithiasis patients, creating a valuable database. The findings highlight common urine abnormalities and low prescription rates for stone prevention, with a significant percentage experiencing symptomatic stone events.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Urology
- Data Science
Background:
- Observational studies on urolithiasis are limited by data availability.
- A comprehensive database is needed to study urolithiasis broadly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To overcome data limitations in urolithiasis research.
- To link Medicare claims data with 24-hour urine collection results.
- To create a large cohort database for studying urolithiasis.
Main Methods:
- Identified adult Medicare beneficiaries with urolithiasis and 24-hour urine collections (2011-2016).
- Linked urine collection results with paid Medicare claims.
- Characterized patients and analyzed prescription fills for stone prevention and symptomatic stone events.
Main Results:
- The Medicare-Litholink cohort included 11,460 patients with 18,922 urine collections.
- Common urine abnormalities included abnormal pH (77.2%) and low volume (63.8%).
- Only 17% had alkali and 7.6% had thiazide monotherapy; 23.1% experienced symptomatic stone events within 2 years.
Conclusions:
- Successfully linked Medicare claims with 24-hour urine data for adult urolithiasis patients.
- The resulting database is a unique resource for future research.
- Enables studies on clinical effectiveness of stone prevention strategies and urolithiasis.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Urinary Tract Calculi VI: Surgical Management
12
Procedures for Kidney StonesMedical intervention is necessary when kidney stones or renal calculi are too large to pass spontaneously (typically greater than 5 millimeters) when stones are accompanied by symptomatic infection (such as fever or pyelonephritis), when they impair kidney function, or when they cause persistent symptoms like severe pain, nausea, or urinary retention. Additionally, patients with only one kidney or those who cannot be treated with medical management also require...
12
01:30Urinary Tract Calculi III: Medical Management
10
The diagnosis of renal calculi involves several imaging techniques, including non-contrast CT scans and ultrasound. These methods help visualize kidney stones, assess their size and location, and detect possible obstructions. Additionally, Measuring urine pH is useful for diagnosing specific stone types, such as struvite (alkaline pH) and uric acid stones (acidic pH). Cystine stones are primarily linked to cystinuria, a genetic condition. A urinalysis helps detect blood in the urine (hematuria)...
10
01:22Imaging Studies V: Intravenous Urography and Retrograde Pyelography
94
IntroductionIntravenous Urography (IVU) and Retrograde Pyelography (RP) are important diagnostic imaging techniques used to evaluate the urinary system. These methods help identify structural abnormalities, obstructions, and functional issues in the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. Both procedures use iodine-based contrast media to enhance the visibility of urinary tract structures on X-ray images, though they differ in their methods and indications.1. Intravenous Urography (IVU)Intravenous...
94
01:28Urinary Tract Calculi I: Introduction
20
Renal calculi, or kidney stones, are solid deposits of minerals and salts formed inside the kidneys. In medical terminology, "calculus" refers to the stone itself, while "lithiasis" describes the process of stone formation. Depending on their location within the urinary system, these stones may be classified as either urolithiasis, when situated within the urinary tract, or nephrolithiasis, when located within the kidneys. Each term signifies the specific impact of the stone.Predisposition...
20
01:28Urinary Tract Calculi V: Nursing Management
15
AssessmentSubjective Data: Obtain a detailed health history, including any recent or chronic urinary tract infections, periods of immobilization, previous episodes of renal calculi, and medical conditions such as gout, benign prostatic hyperplasia, or hyperparathyroidism. Review the medication history for drugs that may influence stone formation, including allopurinol, analgesics, loop diuretics, or thiazide diuretics. Document the use of long-term indwelling catheters and any past surgical...
15
01:27Urinary Tract Calculi IV: Nutrition Therapy and Prevention
13
Management of renal calculi focuses on effective strategies like tailored nutrition and hydration therapy. Adjusting diet and fluid intake reduces stone formation and recurrence, making these interventions simple yet powerful in kidney stone prevention and management.Understanding Kidney StonesKidney stones form when calcium, oxalate, uric acid, and cystine concentrate and crystallize in urine. Factors contributing to their formation include genetic predisposition, certain medical conditions,...
13