Cent Eur J Public Health 2022, 30(Supplement):S37-S42 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6812

Analysis of potential risk factors associated with urolithiasis

Erik Drabiščák¹, Erik Dorko¹, Marek Vargovčák², Ľubomír Velk³, Kvetoslava Rimárová¹, Štefánia Andraščíková⁴, Viliam Knap⁵

¹ Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Košice, Slovak Republic

² Urology Ambulance, Railway Hospital, Košice, Slovak Republic

³ Department of Urology, Louis Pasteur University Hospital, Košice, Slovak Republic

⁴ Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Care, University of Prešov, Prešov, Slovak Republic

⁵ Department of Physiatry, Balneology, and Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Košice, Slovak Republic

Objectives: Eating habits, regular fluid intake, lifestyle and body composition are a primary point of research. The research focused on urolithiasis approaching potential danger, trying to interpret risk factors responsible for urolithiasis and disease recurrence.

Methods: Research file contains 166 patients suffering from urolithiasis, 87 (52.4%) males and 79 (47.6%) females, and 172 healthy subjects from control group. All data was accessed using fully anonymous and confidential questionnaires, then evaluated in the statistical GNU PSPP 1.4 software.

Results: More than 3/4 patients have a BMI higher than 24.9 and almost 40% of subjects have obesity class I, II, or III. Patients have higher BMI than subjects (d = 1.285; p < 0.001), and females have significantly higher BMI than males (d = 0.385; p = 0.007). Female patients have higher BMI than Slovak healthy females (p < 0.001; MD = 4.581; CI: 3.24-5.93). Patients have a lower daily water intake than subjects (φc = 0.157; p = 0.04) and more than ²/3 of patients have insufficient water intake. Sedentary employment prevails markedly in patients than in subjects. Patients are much less physically active than subjects (φc = 0.633; p < 0.001) and the difference is rising with increasing age of patients (ρ = - 0.232; p = 0.003). Low physical and working activity are characteristic for patients in this study. Patients smoke more often in comparison to subjects (φc = 0.261; p < 0.001). Patients consume more meats (red and white), cocoa and lentils. A lot of patients exceed recommended daily intake of pork and beef.

Conclusions: Many conditions are different for the healthy population and patients' group. High BMI, low fluid intake, exceeded red meat consumption, and low physical activity are the strongest factors for developing urolithiasis. Patients should consume more fluids daily, exercise frequently and vigorously, and lower amount of red meat consumed.

Keywords: urolithiasis, kidney stones, risk factors, physical activity, BMI, fluid intake

Received: March 3, 2021; Revised: February 2, 2022; Accepted: February 2, 2022; Published: June 27, 2022  Show citation