Association Between Body Fat Mass and Kidney Stones in US Adults: Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2018

Association of body fat percentage with kidney stone Disease: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study among bus drivers

BACKGROUND

The association between body fat percentage (BFP) and kidney stone disease (KSD) among bus drivers has not been explored in the existing literature. Thus, this study was conducted to explore the influence of BFP on the risk of KSD as well as KSD development for bus drivers to fill the research gap.

METHODS

A cross-sectional and longitudinal cohort study was designed. In total, 3433 bus drivers were included in the cross-sectional analyses, and 1864 bus drivers without KSD at baseline and with regular follow-up were included in the longitudinal cohort study.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 2.9 years, KSD occurred in 15.0% of bus drivers. Multivariate logistic analysis found that each 5% higher BFP was not only significantly related with higher odds of KSD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.48), but also associated with higher odds of developing KSD (OR = 1.27). The risk of prevalent KSD in obesity group based on BFP was 2.47 times of the normal group; and the corresponding risk of developing KSD was 1.61 times. For obesity bus drives with age < 40, the corresponding risk increased to 4.54 times.

CONCLUSION

Bus drivers were reported to have a high prevalence of KSD as well as development of KSD. As a significant predictive factor for KSD, BFP can be used to monitor and prevent bus drivers from kidney stone formation. Bus drivers in obesity group based on BFP, especially with age < 40 years should become priority subjects for targeted prevention.

Higher weight-adjusted waist index is associated with increased likelihood of kidney stones

Objectives

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) and the prevalence of kidney stones among adults in the United States.

Methods

The cross-sectional study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning the years 2007-2018. A total of 31,344 participants were categorized into two groups: those with kidney stones and those without. WWI was determined by dividing waist circumference (cm) by the square root of body weight (kg). To examine the relationship between kidney stones and WWI, multivariate logistic regression models, smoothed curve fitting, and weighted generalized additive model (GAM) regression were employed. Subgroup analysis and interaction tests were conducted to explore the stability of this association across different groups.

Results

The final analysis comprised a total of 31,344 participants, including 2,928 individuals who had a history of kidney stones. In the fully adjusted model, an increase in WWI exhibited a positive correlation with the prevalence of kidney stones (OR=1.34, 95% CI: 1.18-1.51). When WWI was converted into quartiles (Q1-Q4), participants in the highest quartile (Q4) had a 69% greater risk of developing kidney stones compared to those in the lowest quartile (Q1) (OR=1.69, 95% CI: 1.28-2.25). This positive association was particularly notable among non-diabetic patients.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates a significant positive association between weight-adjusted waist index levels and an elevated prevalence of kidney stones among US adults. Furthermore, this research highlights the potential utility of weight-adjusted waist index in the prevention of kidney stones in the overall population. This relationship is limited and further research is needed to test this hypothesis.

Causal effects of modifiable risk factors on kidney stones: a bidirectional mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

Increasing epidemiological studies demonstrated that modifiable risk factors affected the risk of kidney stones. We aimed to systemically assess these causal associations using a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

METHODS

We obtained instrumental variables related to each exposure at the genome-wide significant threshold (P < 5 × 10^-8). Summary level data for outcomes from the FinnGen consortium and UK Biobank were utilized in the discovery and replication stage. The Inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the primary analysis, with additional sensitivity analyses and fix-effect meta-analysis to verify the robustness of IVW results.

RESULTS

Among 46 risk factors, five were significantly associated with nephrolithiasis risk in the FinnGen consortium, UK Biobank, and meta-analyses collectively. The odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals [95%CIs]) of kidney stones were 1.21 (1.13, 1.29) per standard deviation (SD) increase in serum calcium, 1.55 (1.01, 2.36) per SD increase in serum 25(OH)D, 1.14 (1.00, 1.29) per SD increase in total triglycerides, 2.38 (1.34, 4.22) per SD increase in fasting insulin, and 0.28 (0.23, 0.35) per unit increase in log OR of urine pH. In addition, genetically predicted serum phosphorus, urinary sodium, tea consumption, and income affected the risk of kidney stones (false discovery rate [FDR] P < 0.05) based on the outcome data from the FinnGen consortium, and the significant associations of education and waist-to-hip ratio with nephrolithiasis risks were found after FDR correction (FDR P < 0.05) based on the outcome data from UK Biobank.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings comprehensively provide modifiable risk factors for the prevention of nephrolithiasis. Genome-wide association studies with larger sample sizes are needed to verify these causal associations in the future further.

Dietary advices for patients with metabolic syndrome and obesity

Obesity and metabolic syndrome are two important health problems that have increased in incidence in recent years in all around world. Stone occurrence and recurrence risks are increased in these diseases. Apart from general dietary recommendations for stone patients, metabolic evaluation and personalized dietary recommendations are important in these patients. Achieving a normal BMI also reduces the risks of stone occurrence and recurrence. In these patients, the Mediterranean diet and DASH diet, in which the lower animal protein intake and the higher consumption of vegetables and fruits, can be considered as suitable options in the diets to be applied to lose weight.

Association between food insecurity and kidney stones in the United States: Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2014

Purpose

Although food insecurity is a major public health concern associated with various diseases, the relationship between food insecurity and kidney stones remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between food insecurity and kidney stones in the US population.

Materials and methods

Four continuous cycles of data from the year 2007 to 2014 were obtained from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in the current study. We utilized the Household Food Security Module to assess the food security status of individuals. The primary outcome was whether participants ever had kidney stones, and the secondary outcome was a stone recurrence. A multivariate logistic regression model adjusting for potential confounders was constructed to evaluate the independent association between food insecurity and kidney stones.

Results

A total of 21,914 participants were included in our analysis, with 8.8% having a history of kidney stones and 33.2% of these reporting stones recurrence. Food insecurity was associated with increased risks of kidney stones (odds ratio: 1.21; 95% confidence interval: 1.05-1.39; P = 0.010) and kidney stones recurrence (odds ratio: 1.33; 95% confidence interval: 1.00-1.77; P = 0.052) after adjusting for all potential confounders. In addition, participants with very low food security had 38% and 47% higher risks of kidney stones (odds ratio: 1.38; 95% confidence interval: 1.13-1.69; P = 0.002; P for trend = 0.009) and kidney stones recurrence (odds ratio: 1.47; 95% confidence interval: 1.03-2.10; P = 0.032; P for trend = 0.029), respectively.

Conclusion

There exists a significant association between food insecurity and kidney stones, which reveals the significance of the improvement of food insecurity in the alleviation of kidney stone formation and recurrence.

Association between visceral adiposity index and kidney stones in American adults: A cross-sectional analysis of NHANES 2007–2018

Objective

To explore the association between Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) and kidney stones in an American adult population.

Materials and methods

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) datasets from 2007 to 2018 were used. Participants aged ≥20 years who reported kidney stone history and VAI were included. Weighted proportions, multivariable analysis, generalized additive model (GAM), and spline smoothing were used to evaluate the associations between VAI and kidney stones by adjusting gender, age, race, education, marital status, poverty income ratio, smoking, alcohol, high blood pressure, diabetes, congestive heart failure, cancer, vigorous activity, moderate activity, HEI2015 total score, and energy.

Results

Totally 13,871 American adults were included. All the participants were divided by the VAI into four groups according to the quartile: Q1 (11.96–42.89), Q2 (42.90–74.45), Q3 (74.45–131.43), and Q4 (131.45–611.34). The mean ± standard deviation of the VAI in the four groups were Q1 (29.07 ± 8.22), Q2 (57.53 ± 8.81), Q3 (99.52 ± 16.25), and Q4 (225.92 ± 95.83). In the fully adjusted multivariable model, VAI was positively correlated with urolithiasis [odds ratio (OR) = 1.001; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.000–1.001]. Compared with the first quartile of VAI, the population in the fourth quartile of VAI had a higher prevalence of kidney stones (OR = 1.329; 95% CI 1.104–1.600). Subgroup analysis detected no significant interaction effect after adjusting for covariates.

Conclusion

The value of VAI is positively correlated with the prevalence of kidney stones, which suggest VAI can be used to assess the potential risk of the prevalence of kidney stones.

Association Between Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Future Risk of Kidney Stones

Objective

The association between history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and risk of kidney stones has not been reported. GDM increases the risk of long-term complications including diabetes, hypertension and metabolic syndrome, which are risk factors of kidney stones. This study aimed to explore the association between previous GDM and odds of kidney stones.

Methods

Women (age ≥ 20 years) who had delivered at least one live birth were included from the 2007–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cohort (N = 12,003). Patients with kidney stones and history of GDM were identified by in-home interview for all participants. Subgroup analyses were conducted by age, race/ethnicity, postpartum duration and status of hypertension, obesity, current diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Results

Previous GDM was positively associated with odds of kidney stones [multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.41 (1.13–1.77)], and the association was stronger with odds of passing 2 or more times of kidney stones [1.72 (1.31–2.26)]. In subgroup analyses, the association between previous GDM and odds of kidney stones was significant in women within 15 years of a pregnancy complicated by GDM [1.54 (1.12–2.11)], in obese participants [1.56 (1.18–2.06)], in women without hypertension [1.49 (1.07–2.08)], current diabetes [1.38 (1.02–1.87)] and metabolic syndrome [1.56 (1.10–2.19)], in women of Non-Hispanic White [1.59 (1.15–2.18)] and in women aged more than 50 year [1.45 (1.02–2.07)].

Conclusions

Previous GDM was positively associated with odds of kidney stones, and the association was independent of type 2 diabetes, hypertension and metabolic syndrome.

Contemporary treatment trends for upper urinary tract stones in a total population analysis in Germany from 2006 to 2019: will shock wave lithotripsy become extinct?

PURPOSE

To describe the change in upper urinary tract stone management in Germany over a 14-year period.

METHODS

Using remote data processing we analyzed the nationwide German billing data from 2006 to 2019. To analyze the clinics' case numbers and regional trends, we used the reimbursement.INFO tool based on standardized quality reports of all German hospitals. To also cover shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) as an outpatient procedure, we analyzed the research database of the Institute for Applied Health Research with a representative anonymous sample of 4 million insured persons.

RESULTS

The number of inpatient interventional therapies for upper tract urolithiasis in Germany increased from 70,099 cases in 2006 to 94,815 cases in 2019 (trend p < 0.0001). In-hospital SWL declined from 41,687 cases in 2006 to 10,724 cases in 2019 (decline of 74%; trend p < 0.0001). The percentage of SWL as an outpatient procedure increased between 2013 and 2018 from 36 to 46% of all performed SWL, while total SWL case numbers declined. Contrarily, the number of ureteroscopies increased from 32,203 cases in 2006 to 78,125 cases in 2019 (increase of 143%; trend p < 0.0001). The number of percutaneous nephrolithotomy also increased from 1673 cases in 2006 to 8937 in 2019 (increase of 434%; trend p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

We observed an increase in interventional therapy for upper tract urolithiasis in Germany with a dramatic shift from SWL to endoscopic/percutaneous treatment. These changes may be attributed to enormous technological advances of the endoscopic armamentarium and to reimbursement issues.