Urinary Stone Disease: Progress, Status, and Needs.

ABSTRACT

Urinary stone disease (USD) is an important healthcare problem in the US affecting both adults and children, and costs $10 billion to the nation. Prevalence of USD has nearly doubled during the last 15 years in parallel to the obesity and type 2 diabetes epidemic. Despite the advances in the management of an acute episode, one of three stone formers experience recurrence. A better understanding of stone formation is necessary to develop secondary prevention strategies. There are many unanswered research questions that require a multidisciplinary approach. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recently held a workshop on USD, and is committed to continue conducting and supporting research in this field.