Research highlights sex differences in developing kidney stones

kidney stones
© Sopone Nawoot

New research presents an insight into the risk of developing kidney stones and the link between differences in sex

Men face a higher risk of developing kidney stones compared with women.

A new study that included data on 268,553 adults found that the incidence rate of kidney stones was 271 per 100,000 person-years for men, meaning that 271 would experience their first kidney stone among 100,000 men over one year.

Risk factors in men

Certain factors such as differences in waist circumference, fluid intake, and especially urine composition, explain the excess risk among men.

“Sex plays a role in the development of kidney stones. Certain factors explain at least part of the higher risk of stones among men,” said lead author Pietro Manuel Ferraro, MD, MSc, PhD.

Kidney stones in women

The research also indicated that the gap between women and men is getting smaller.

The data revealed that of the 268,553 adults analysed, the incidence rate of kidney stones was 159 per 100,000 person-years for women.

“Our study also confirms that the gap between men and women in terms of risk of stones is getting smaller,” added senior author Gary C. Curhan, MD, ScD.

The study will be presented online at ASN Kidney Week 2021 November 4th–November 7th.

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