Has the incidence of urolithiasis presenting to secondary care increased in the last 10 years?

Abstract

Objective: Urolithiasis presenting to secondary care has been proposed to be on the increase, in the United Kingdom, based on national Hospital Episode Statistics data. We aimed to assess whether there has been an increase in stone disease presenting to a district general hospital in the last 10 years. Methods: A prospective stone database has been kept for all patients attending the urology department of a district general hospital from 2002. We assessed five yearly intervals to identify changes in incidence, gender and age distribution, and stone composition rates. Results: A 26% increase in calculi presenting to the urology department was noted in the last 10 years. This was in relation to a 2% population increase. This also resulted in a 26% increase in operations for urinary calculi. The increases were equal for men and women, and the mean age of presentation remained the same. There were no significant differences in the findings of stone composition in the last 10 years or in the surgical method of stone extraction. Conclusion: Urolithiasis presenting to the urologist is on the increase, leading to a greater need for urological procedures. Stone services may need to be increased to deal with this increasing demand.