The Calculation of Stone Risk in the Urine of Middle Eastern Men and Western Expatriates Living in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The percentage of men who will form a urinary stone before the age of 70 years varies considerably in different populations throughout the world, from less than 1% in China to around 15% in the USA (1). In Saudi Arabia, the expectancy may be even higher still since the percentage of patients attending urology departments in hospitals in Saudi Arabia averages levels as high as 30%. This is comparable with a corresponding figure of 5–10% in the UK and 10–20% in the USA (2). The question is, can the apparent high prevalence of stone disease in Saudi Arabia be explained by the fact that Saudi Arabian people, and perhaps other Middle Easterners, have a different urinary composition from that found in Western countries? Furthermore, do Middle Eastern people have higher average urinary-supersaturation levels with respect to the main stone-forming salts than Western people living in Saudi Arabia and in their home environment in the West?