Increased risk of anxiety among patients with urolithiasis: A nationwide population-based cohort study

ObjectivesTo investigate whether patients with urolithiasis are at an increased risk of anxiety and depression. MethodsWe used universal insurance claims data in Taiwan from 2000 to 2011 to identify patients with newly diagnosed urolithiasis (n=32617) and those without urolithiasis (n=130465). Incidences, hazard ratios, and incidence rate ratios of anxiety and depression were determined in both cohorts in terms of baseline demographic characteristics and comorbidities until December 2011. ResultsThe urolithiasis cohort yielded a higher incidence of anxiety (11.9 vs 6.91 per 1000 person-years) with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.5 (95% confidence interval 1.42-1.57) than the non-urolithiasis cohort. The urolithiasis cohort also showed a higher incidence of depression (5.79 vs 3.95 per 1000 person-years) with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.26 (95% confidence interval 1.18-1.35) than the non-urolithiasis cohort. Regardless of the patients' baseline comorbidities, patients with urolithiasis showed a higher incidence rate ratio of anxiety and depression than those without urolithiasis (with no comorbidities: adjusted hazard ratio 1.62, 95% confidence interval 1.49-1.76] for anxiety and adjusted hazard ratio 1.37, 95% confidence interval 1.23-1.54 for depression). ConclusionUrolithiasis is recurrent, and significantly associated with anxiety and depression. Therefore, urologists should diagnose patients suspected with this disease and provide proper medical care.