Global Trends in Incidence and Burden of Urolithiasis from 1990 to 2019: An Analysis of Global Burden of Disease Study Data.

Background: Urolithiasis is among the most common urologic diagnoses globally, with substantial burden and cost on healthcare systems worldwide. Increasing evidence links urolithiasis with an array of risk factors, including diet and lifestyle trends, noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes and obesity, and global warming.

Objective: To examine geographic, temporal, and sociodemographic patterns to better understand global disease burden of urolithiasis.

Design Setting And Participants: We extracted data on age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributed to urolithiasis for 21 regions, including 204 countries, for 1990-2019 from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study.

Outcome Measurements And Statistical Analysis: Data were analyzed at the global, regional, and country levels, as well as stratified by the Socio-Demographic Index. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) was calculated to measure temporal trends across groups.

Results And Limitations: Globally, total cases, DALYs, and deaths attributed to urolithiasis increased over the study period, while the age-standardized rates of these measures decreased. The age-standardized incidence of urolithiasis decreased from 1696.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1358.1-2078.1) cases per 100 000 population in 1990 to 1394.0 (95% CI, 1126.4-1688.2) cases per 100 000 population in 2019, with an AAPC of -0.7 (95% CI [-0.8, -0.6]). Of the GBD regions, Eastern Europe demonstrated a consistently higher ASIR of urolithiasis than all other regions, while the Caribbean had the highest AAPC. This study is limited by the available national and regional data, as described in the original GBD study.

Conclusions: Worldwide, total cases, DALYs, and deaths attributed to urolithiasis have increased since 1990, while age-standardized rates have decreased, with demonstrated regional and sociodemographic variation. Multifaceted strategies to address urolithiasis prevention and treatment are necessary.

Patient Summary: In this study, we looked at trends in the global burden of stone disease using data from 204 countries from 1990 to 2019. We found that the overall burden has increased, but it varies by age, sociodemographic variables, and geographic region. We conclude that we need adaptable policies that suit the specific needs of the country to address this burden.