Prevalence of urolithiasis in Saudi Arabia: A systematic literature review

Abstract

Urolithiasis is a common urological disease that can have a negative impact on health and quality of life in people worldwide. Multiple studies have investigated the prevalence of urolithiasis worldwide. However, research on this disease in Saudi Arabia is very limited. This review was conducted to investigate the prevalence of urolithiasis and its associations in Saudi Arabia. A standardized, systematic search strategy was conducted to identify observational studies that reported the prevalence of urolithiasis in Saudi Arabia. The search included published studies between January 2000 and October 2023. A variation in prevalence between regions was found and was reported to range from 6% to 19%. A significant association between urolithiasis and two factors, increasing age and family history, was found. Studies on urolithiasis are limited in Saudi Arabia. Despite this, it is evident that the prevalence of urolithiasis is comparable in other parts of the world. Public awareness and lifestyle modification efforts may help reduce this disease’s impact on our population.