Who Gets Kidney Stones: The New Trends

Once upon a time, it seemed that only middle-aged men got kidney stones, but that story may be changing.

In a new study, researchers from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) found that kidney stones were becoming more common in some groups. This increase was most noticeable among adolescents, women and black patients.

Study leader Gregory E. Tasian, MD, said in a press release, "The emergence of kidney stones in children is particularly worrisome, because there is limited evidence on how to best treat children for this condition."

Dr. Tasian, a pediatric urologist and epidemiologist at CHOP, added, "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."

Although research has shown an increasing trend of kidney stones in children and teens, this study clarified which groups may be most at risk.

Dr. Tasian and colleagues analyzed data from more than 150,000 children and adults in South Carolina between 1997 and 2012. The overall incidence of kidney stones increased 16 percent during that period.

Rates for kidney stones among adolescents climbed 4.7 percent per year. Rates among black patients increased 2.9 percent per year.

Rates in women increased 3 percent per year, Dr. Tasian and team found. For women, the lifetime risk of developing kidney stones increased by 45 percent.

Although this study did not examine all factors, the authors noted that diet, dehydration and higher temperatures may all play a part. If you are concerned that you may be at risk for kidney stones, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

This study was published online Jan. 14 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

The National Institutes of Health funded this research. Dr. Tasian and team disclosed no conflicts of interest.