Epidemiology of urolithiasis in the Republic of Tajikistan according to Global Burden of Disease 2021 data
TL;DR
Urolithiasis constitutes a steadily increasing epidemiological burden in Tajikistan, necessitating region-specific preventive strategies, promotion of adequate hydration, metabolic screening, and annual monitoring of urological morbidity.
Abstract
Objective : To assess the epidemiological trends of urolithiasis in the Republic of Tajikistan from 1990 to 2021 using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study. Material and methods : A retrospective descriptive and analytical study was conducted using the open-access database of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) for “Urolithiasis.” Age-standardized prevalence, incidence, DALY, YLD, and YLL rates were analyzed, along with sex- and age-specific differences, regional comparisons, and associated risk factors. Results : The age-standardized prevalence increased from 1,205.3 to 1,596.4 per 100,000 population (+32.4%; CAGR +0.87% per year), while the incidence rate rose from 389.2 to 483.7 per 100,000 population (+24.3%). The absolute number of cases increased from 499.8 thousand to 943.1 thousand (+88.7%). Despite the rise in prevalence, the overall DALY rate decreased from 58.4 to 44.8 per 100,000 population (−23.3%), primarily due to a reduction in the mortality component of disease burden. The highest burden was observed among individuals aged 35–64 years. Tajikistan exceeded the global prevalence rate by 25.6% and ranked fourth among the countries of Central Asia. The leading risk factors identified were dehydration and hot climate, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, and high sodium intake. Conclusion : Urolithiasis constitutes a steadily increasing epidemiological burden in Tajikistan, necessitating region-specific preventive strategies, promotion of adequate hydration, metabolic screening, and annual monitoring of urological morbidity.