Obesity, Diabetes and Gout Increase Risk of Kidney Stones
Researchers who examine health data for the federal government found a huge uptick in the number of people with kidney stones.
The incidence of kidney stones has increased from 1 in 20 persons in 1994, to 1 in 11 persons in 2007. That’s almost twice the number of Americans!
Obesity and diabetes are believed to driving factors. People with gout are at an increased risk for stone occurrence.
Dr. Charles Scales Jr. of UCLA led the investigation that analyzed data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The survey collects information about a variety of health conditions on an ongoing basis for the National Center for Health Statistics.
Scales and his colleagues reviewed the responses from 12,110 people from 2007-2010. The last time NHANES reviewed data on kidney stone prevalence was in 1994.
Maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle are believed to be key deterrents in preventing stone recurrence.
Source: UCLA News
