Are there localities with a higher than normal incidence of urolithiasis?

From the Guidelines

Yes, there are localities with a higher than normal incidence of urolithiasis, although the provided evidence does not specifically identify these locations.

Factors Influencing Incidence

• The incidence of urolithiasis increases with age until 60 years of age 1
• Men are more commonly affected than women, with an estimated 19% of men and 9% of women being diagnosed with a kidney stone by 70 years of age 1
• Recurrence rates are higher in those with 2 or more previous stone episodes 1

Diagnosis and Treatment

• Imaging plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of urolithiasis, with noncontrast CT being the reference standard 1
• Treatment may be conservative with supportive and medical therapy, or invasive therapies such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy, rigid and flexible ureteroscopy, or shock wave lithotripsy 1

Geographical Variation

While the provided evidence does not specifically address geographical variation in the incidence of urolithiasis, it is known that factors such as climate, diet, and genetics can influence the risk of developing kidney stones. However, without more specific evidence, it is not possible to identify specific localities with a higher than normal incidence of urolithiasis.

From the Research

Localities with Higher Incidence of Urolithiasis

There are several localities that have been reported to have a higher incidence of urolithiasis. These include:

• The Caribbean region, which had the highest increasing trend of urolithiasis rates 2
• Central Asia, which had the second highest increasing trend of urolithiasis rates 2
• African regions, which revealed significant increasing trends over time 2
• Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, and Grenada, which had the most increasing trend in urolithiasis rates 2
• Urban areas in South Korea, where the incidence rates of urolithiasis tended to increase annually from 2009 to 2013 3
• Eastern Europe, which demonstrated a consistently higher age-standardized incidence rate of urolithiasis than all other regions 4

Factors Contributing to Higher Incidence

Several factors have been identified as contributing to the higher incidence of urolithiasis in these localities, including:

• Climatic factors such as temperature, wind speed, and humidity 3
• Dietary factors such as high protein and fat intake 5
• Lifestyle factors such as obesity and low fluid intake 5
• Sociodemographic factors such as age and socioeconomic status 4

Regional Variations

There are significant regional variations in the incidence of urolithiasis, with some regions having a higher incidence than others. For example:

• The Caribbean region had the highest age-standardized incidence rate of urolithiasis 2
• Eastern Europe had a consistently higher age-standardized incidence rate of urolithiasis than all other regions 4
• Africa had significant increasing trends in urolithiasis rates over time 2