Urinary incontinence linked to increased risk of kidney stones

This study examined whether patients with urinary incontinence (UI) are at increased risk of developing kidney stones. Researchers reported that UI significantly increased the risk of developing kidney stones.

UI can be caused by weak bladder muscles (stress UI), overactive bladder muscles (overactive bladder or urge UI), or by blockage due to an enlarged prostate in men. Metabolic syndrome (obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or high blood sugar levels) has also been linked to the severity of UI.

Patients with metabolic syndrome often have inflamed tubes that carry urine from the kidneys. This has been suggested as a possible cause of kidney stones. Kidney stones are small mineral deposits that can form in or near the kidneys. Kidney stones can be very painful and need to be passed or removed to avoid complications. Whether patients with UI are at greater risk of developing kidney stones has not been fully studied.

The study aimed to investigate associations between UI and kidney stones.

1,777 patients with UI were included in this study. The rate of kidney stones developed over an 8-year study period was compared to 26,655 control participants without UI. None of the participants included had a history of kidney stones.

18.8% of UI patients developed kidney stones during the study period. This was significantly higher compared to 9.7 to 10.5% of control participants (depending on whether they had metabolic syndrome). After accounting for the presence of metabolic syndrome, UI increased the risk of developing kidney stones by 99%.

The average time until kidney stone diagnosis for patients with UI was 3.7 years. This was significantly shorter compared to control participants (average 4.2 to 4.7 years).

Men were significantly more likely than women to develop kidney stones. Metabolic syndrome was also significantly associated with developing kidney stones.

Researchers concluded that UI is a risk factor for developing kidney stones. This remained significant regardless of the presence of metabolic syndrome or not.