Clinical and epidemiological profile of urolithiasis in Western Algeria: a 10-year retrospective study

Abstract

Urolithiasis is an important and increasingly recognized public health problem worldwide, including in Algeria. This retrospective single-center study described the demographic, clinical, and stone-related characteristics of 848 patients managed for urolithiasis in the Urology Department of the University Hospital Center of Oran, Western Algeria, from 2014 to 2023. Data on demographic characteristics, comorbidities, stone characteristics, family history, recurrence, urinary infection, and treatment were analyzed using descriptive and multivariable methods. The male-to-female ratio was 1.66. The highest frequencies occurred between 31 and 60 years in males and at 51-60 years in females. Among patients older than 50 years, 25.8% had hypertension and 19.6% had diabetes. Most stones (98.5%) were located in the upper urinary tract, including 49.2% in the kidneys, and 75.4% of patients had unilateral stones. Most stones (87.8%) measured 1-20 mm. Pain was reported by 81.3% of patients, 12.0% had a family history of urolithiasis, 26.8% experienced recurrence, and urinary infection was recorded in 9.8%. Ureteroscopy was the most frequently used treatment (60.6%), whereas open stone surgery was uncommon. These findings provide an updated description of patients managed for urolithiasis in Western Algeria. Prospective multicenter studies are needed to determine whether these hospital-based patterns are representative of the wider Algerian population.