Factors Associated With Urolithiasis: A Hospital-Based Case-Control Study

Background: Urolithiasis is a common preventable ailment. Previous studies showed that there are a lot of factors, such as dietary, health and environmental factors, which are likely to develop this condition. Only a few research have been conducted on urolithiasis in the UAE. Therefore, our study aimed to identify the factors associated with urolithiasis in the country, identify the symptoms of urolithiasis among the cases and identify the most common diagnostic methods. Methodology: It was a case-control study design. The study population was adults above 18 years attending a tertiary care centre. Those who have confirmed diagnosis of urolithiasis and gave informed consent were considered cases and those who have not confirmed diagnosis of urolithiasis as controls. Patients with renal, bladder or urinary tract impairment or anomaly were excluded from the study. Ethical approval was obtained for the study. Results: Crude odds ratio (OR) showed that age, gender, past treatment for urinary stones, and lifestyle factors such as diet and smoking are risk factors while exercising is a protective factor. Age-adjusted OR found that past treatment for the urinary disease (OR=10.4), consumption of oily food (OR=11.5), consumption of fast food (OR=11.0) and consumption of energy drinks (OR=5.9) were the significant risk factors for urolithiasis. Conclusion: We found that past urinary disease treatment and diet are vital in developing urinary stones. Higher consumption of salty, oily, sugary and protein foods increases the odds of urinary diseases. Public awareness programs are essential to educating people about urolithiasis risk factors and preventive measures.