Work

Global, Regional, and National Epidemiology of Pediatric Urolithiasis (1990-2021) and 2040 Forecast

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: PURPOSE: Pediatric urolithiasis is a common clinical condition that can cause kidney damage and long-term health complications. The aim of this study was to assess the trends in incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years of pediatric urolithiasis from 1990 to 2021 and to predict the burden of the disease in 2040. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Detailed information on pediatric urolithiasis from 1990 to 2021 was collected from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 Database. Based on Global Burden of Disease data, a systematic approach was used to analyze the burden and trends in the incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years of pediatric urolithiasis from 1990 to 2021 and to predict the disease burden in 2040. RESULTS: In 2021, there were 1,560,000 new cases, representing a 15% increase compared with 1990, with 920,000 cases in boys (58%) and 640,000 cases in girls (41%). Prevalence rose by 15%, while disability-adjusted life years decreased by 43% compared with 1990. However, from 2015 to 2021, both incidence and prevalence of pediatric urolithiasis significantly increased. Regions with a lower Socio-Demographic Index exhibited higher incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years, exacerbating disparities in disease burden. By 2040, incidence is expected to exceed 1.53 million. CONCLUSIONS: Global incidence and prevalence are expected to continue rising. Although disability-adjusted life years have decreased, health inequities remain prominent, particularly in low Socio-Demographic Index regions. To address the growing burden of pediatric urolithiasis, focusing on low-Socio-Demographic Index areas is crucial, prioritizing access to prevention and treatment resources to improve global child urological health.

Source: The Journal of Urology

DOI: 10.1097/ju.0000000000004645