Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2026
07:45
Estimation of Urinary Nanocrystals in Humans using Calcium Fluorophore Labeling and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis
Published on: February 9, 2021
2.9K
Causal association between sleep disorders and nephrolithiasis: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.
Lewei Huang1, Lianhui Fan2, Shudong Wang3
1Department of Respiratory Diseases, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, 110015, China.
International Urology and Nephrology
|April 23, 2026
Summary
This study found a causal link between sleep disorders and an increased risk of kidney stones (nephrolithiasis). Genetically predicted sleep apnea and combined sleep disorders were associated with higher nephrolithiasis risk.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Sleep Medicine
- Genetics
Background:
- Observational studies suggest a link between sleep disorders and kidney stones (nephrolithiasis).
- The causal nature of this association remains unclear.
- Investigating genetic predispositions can help determine causality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal relationship between genetically determined sleep disorders and the risk of nephrolithiasis.
- Utilizing a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.
Main Methods:
- Employed a two-sample MR design using genome-wide association study summary data for sleep disorders and nephrolithiasis.
- Primary analysis used the inverse variance weighted method.
- Confirmatory analyses included weighted mode, weighted median, and MR-Egger regression; sensitivity analyses involved Cochran's Q-test, MR-Egger intercept, and leave-one-out analysis.
Main Results:
- Genetically predicted sleep apnea showed a significant association with increased risk of nephrolithiasis (OR=1.0032, P=0.0025).
- Combined sleep disorders were also causally associated with a higher risk of nephrolithiasis (OR=1.0042, P=0.0032).
- Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings, with no evidence of significant heterogeneity or pleiotropy.
Conclusions:
- This Mendelian randomization study provides evidence for a causal link between sleep disorders and nephrolithiasis.
- Further research is warranted to explore the underlying biological mechanisms.
- These findings may inform clinical strategies for kidney stone prevention in individuals with sleep disorders.
Related Concept Videos
02:20Correlations
Correlation means that there is a relationship between two or more variables (such as ice cream consumption and crime), but this relationship does not necessarily imply cause and effect. When two variables are correlated, it simply means that as one variable changes, so does the other. We can measure correlation by calculating a statistic known as a correlation coefficient. A correlation coefficient is a number from -1 to +1 that indicates the strength and direction of the relationship between...
01:53Cause and Effect
While variables are sometimes correlated because one does cause the other, it could also be that some other factor, a confounding variable, is actually causing the systematic movement in our variables of interest. For instance, as sales in ice cream increase, so does the overall rate of crime. Is it possible that indulging in your favorite flavor of ice cream could send you on a crime spree? Or, after committing crime do you think you might decide to treat yourself to a cone?
01:28Urinary Tract Calculi I: Introduction
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...
01:26Urinary Tract Calculi II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations
Renal calculi, commonly termed kidney stones, are crystalline solid masses that form in the kidneys but can occur at any point within the urinary system, encompassing the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.The pathophysiology of renal stones involves several key factors: supersaturation of the urine with stone-forming constituents, changes in urine pH, a decrease in urine volume, and the presence of substances that promote or inhibit stone formation.Supersaturation of Urine: This is the...
01:30Urinary Tract Calculi III: Medical Management
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)...
01:27Urinary Tract Calculi IV: Nutrition Therapy and Prevention
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,...