Association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and urolithiasis: a cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48193/e8c81943Keywords:
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Urolithiasis, metabolic syndrome, Kidney Stones, Insulin Resistance, CT ScanAbstract
Background: urolithiasis, the formation of kidney stones, is associated with chronic conditions such as metabolic syndrome, which increases the risk of uric acid and calcium oxalate stones. Based on CT scan findings, this study aims to investigate the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and urolithiasis.
Method: over two years, a cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at Razi Hospital in Birjand, Iran. Participants were patients aged 16 to 80 presenting with renal colic who underwent non-contrast abdominopelvic CT scans. Exclusion criteria included other liver diseases, excessive alcohol consumption, and a history of splenectomy. Data were collected using a structured checklist and analyzed for the presence of fatty liver and kidney stones.
Results: the study included 911 participants, with a mean age of 47.88 years (SD = 16.48). Among the participants, 80 had fatty liver disease, and 50 of these had kidney stones. In contrast, of the 831 participants without fatty liver, 356 had kidney stones. The association between fatty liver and kidney stones was significant (p < 0.001). Gender-stratified analysis showed that males with fatty liver had a higher incidence of kidney stones compared to females (p < 0.001 for males, p = 0.631 for females).
Conclusion: the study confirms a significant association between NAFLD and urolithiasis, particularly in males. The findings suggest that screening for kidney stones in patients with fatty liver disease might be beneficial. Addressing underlying metabolic disorders could help mitigate the risk of developing both conditions.
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