Adult urolithiasis in Western Algeria: a study of 1104 cases

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Urolithiasis is a health problem which is increasing all over the world as in Algeria, but with scarce local data. Our objective was to determine, for the first time, the epidemiological characteristics of urolithiasis in western Algeria.
Patients and methods: We determined the socio-demographic parameters, the clinical data and those related to stones of 1104 adult stone formers (2012-2019).
Results: We confirmed the higher prevalence of urolithiasis among males (sex-ratio=1.9). Stone formers were overweight or obese in 57.2% of cases, 56.7% were living in urban areas and 53.1% had a poor educational level. The rate of consanguinity was 25% and 33.9% had a family history. Stone recurrence was 51.1% and 89% of stones were located in the upper urinary tract. Spontaneous expulsion was the most frequent way of elimination (51.9%), open surgery was used in 19.7%, while 15.5% resorted to endourology or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. The predominant component of stones was calcium oxalate (75%), followed by calcium phosphates (8.9%) and uric acid (10.2%). Struvite (urinary infection indices) was in 3.4% of stones but detected in 16.9% and cystine was found in 1%. Males had a higher educational level, a higher consanguinity rate and more recurrences than females.
Conclusion: The epidemiologic profile coming out of this study is close to those described in Maghreb and in industrialized countries. Our data showed that there is an improvement of the socio-economical level, but modern techniques of stone removal should be used more, as well as change in lifestyle.