[Epidemiology of urinary lithiasis in la Ribera de Navarra (I)]

An epidemiological study on the lithiatic disease (LD) was conducted in 'La Ribera de Navarra' over a two year-period, based on the series from the Reina Sofia Hospital in Tudela. Between May 1988 and May 1990 we gathered 785 cases. This paper analyzes the hospitalization incidence, risk factors such as age, sex, familial and personal background of lithiasis, consumption of drugs., etc. A description is made of the geographical, geological, climatic conditions, composition of water, and other characteristics, as well as the clinical features. Incidence of LE in this Area V of Navarra is high, 5.1 per thousand inhabitants/year, being uncommon in children but frequent in adults: 7.92 per thousand men/year and 4.97 per thousand women/year, with a male/female ratio of 1.52. There is a predominance of women over the early decades of life, the M/F ratio being 0.40 for the 15-24 years range. 19.61% of patients have a familial background of LE, the father being the most affected relation. Around 53.79% have been affected by LE. The factor most commonly correlated to frequency is the distance to the hospital and the rate of admission to the emergency service by area. No correction was noted to water hardness or weather differences. The greater incidence takes place during the summer and the lowest in the autumn.