Abstract

Introduction: Climate, nutritional addiction, demographic factors, genetics and life style play significant

roles in the etiology of urinary stone disease. In our study we analyzed some of these risk factors in cases with

urinary tract stones using a standard questionnaire.

Materials and Methods: During a time period between 2002 and 2003, a total of 210 urinary stone disease

patients over age 14 were seen at our institution in Istanbul. After a detailed medical and urological

examination, all patients enrolled were evaluated with a standard questionnaire focusing on age, sex, stone

location, medical and family history, birthplace and residency, nutritional habits, educational status, and life

style.

Results: There were 84 female (mean age: 41.3±18.6 years), and 126 male patients (mean age: 42.0±19.3

years). The male/female ratio was 1.5/1. The most common (69.5%) stone location was the kidney, and

percutaneous nephrolithotomy was the most commonly (32.8%) offered treatment modality. Patients most

commonly (%39) presented in 5th decade (41-50 years of age) of their life. A total of 38% had a high school

degree, while 3.8% were graduated from university. Region of residency of cases enrolled to the study was

South-Eastern Anatolian Region in 28.6%, Eastern Anatolian Region in 28.6%, Marmara Region in 22.8%,

Karadeniz Region in 14.3% and Middle Anatolian Region in 5.7%. Family history of urinary stone disease

was positive in 40% of cases. Analysis of nutritional habits revealed insufficient water intake in 34.3% (n: 72),

excessive protein intake in 32.9% (n: 69), and excessive salt intake in 77.6% (n: 163). Nutritional habits did not

significantly differ between primary and recurrent stone formers. A total of 70% (n: 147) suffered from

constipation, and 57.2% (n: 120) had a sedentary life style, while 3.5% were training exercises regularly.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that low socioeconomic and educational status, dominancy of eastern

regions in residency, diminished water intake in addition to bad nutritional habits inappropriate to ‘common

sense diet’ and sedentary life style are commonly observed factors in cases presenting with urinary stone

disease. Patient education and modification of these factors will probably diminish the prevalence of urinary

stone disease.