Kidney stones are on the rise among youth, especially in females and African-Americans

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-01/chop-ksa011316.php

Public Release: 14-Jan-2016
Kidney stones are on the rise among youth, especially in females and African-Americans
CHOP researcher: Trend is a change from historical prevalance in middle-aged white men
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Kidney stones are increasing, particularly among adolescents, females, and African-Americans in the U.S., a striking change from the historic pattern in which middle-aged white men were at highest risk for the painful condition.

•••••

"These trends of increased frequency of kidney stones among adolescents, particularly females, are also concerning when you consider that kidney stones are associated with a higher risk of chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular and bone disease, particularly among young women."

•••••

Overall, the annual incidence of kidney stones increased 16 percent between 1997 and 2012. The greatest rates of increase were among adolescents (4.7 percent per year), females (3 percent per year), and African-Americans (2.9 percent per year). Between 1997 and 2012 the risk of kidney stones doubled during childhood for both boys and girls, while there was a 45 percent increase in the lifetime risk for women.

The highest rate of increase in kidney stones was among adolescent females, and in any given year, stones were more common among females than males aged 10 to 24 years. After age 25, kidney stones became more common among men.

Among African-Americans, the incidence of kidney stone increased 15 percent more than in whites within each five-year period covered by the study.

Possible factors for the rise in kidney stones, said the authors, may include poor water intake and dietary habits, such as an increase in sodium and a decrease in calcium intake. However, the current study did not examine dietary differences. In addition, dehydration, which promotes the growth of kidney stones, is related to both poor water intake and higher temperatures. Tasian led a 2014 study that showed a link between higher daily temperatures and an increase in patients seeking treatment for kidney stones in five U.S. cities, a link that may be a consequence of climate change.

•••••