Association between monocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and kidney stone: insights from NHANES.

Purpose: The ratio of monocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (MHR) has surfaced as a novel biomarker indicative of inflammation and oxidative stress. The aim of our study was to evaluate the association between MHR and the risk of kidney stones.

Methods: This study analyzed data from individuals aged 20-79 who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2007 and 2018. The MHR was assessed as the exposure variable, while a self-reported history of kidney stones was used as the outcome variable. The independent relationship between MHR and the risk of kidney stones was thoroughly evaluated.

Results: This study included 28,878 participants, and as the quartile range of the MHR increased, the proportion of kidney stones also rose progressively (7.20% to 8.89% to 10.88% to 12.05%, <0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, MHR was independently associated with an increased risk of kidney stones (OR=1.31, 95%CI=1.11-1.54, =0.001), also independent of some common inflammatory indices. Subgroup analysis suggested that the relationship between MHR and kidney stones was more pronounced in female and individuals aged 20-49. Further restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis indicated a nonlinear relationship between MHR and the risk of kidney stones.

Conclusion: Our results indicate a positive correlation between MHR and an increased risk of kidney stones in US adults, underscoring the need for further large-scale prospective cohort studies to validate these findings.