[Epidemiology of urolithiasis in south of Tunisia].

Abstract

Determine the epidemiological characteristics of urolithiasis in the South region of Tunisia and the impact of age and sex on stone composition. We conducted a retrospective study including patient records whose urinary lithiasis was analyzed within the biochemistry department of CHU Habib Bourguiba of Sfax (2011-2020). Stone analysis was performed using a stereomicroscope and infrared spectroscopy. A total of 1127 stones were analyzed. The sex ratio was 2,6. Renal Colic pain was the most common symptom (48,3%). The most frequent localization of the stones (84.6%) was the upper urinary tract. Whewellite was the most common component (64.1%). The study of stone component according to age showed a decrease in the frequency of weddellite (p = 0,024) and an increase in the frequency of uric acid stones with age (p < 0,001). Whewellite was more frequent in men (p = 0.022) and, notably in our series, uric acid was significantly more frequent in women (p < 0.001). The epidemiological profile of urolithiasis in south of Tunisia is similar to that observed in industrialized countries.