Identifying Risk Factors for Urinary Tract Stones in Pregnant Women at a Tertiary Hospital in China: A Retrospective Survey

Background: Urinary tract stones present significant health risks to pregnant women and their foetuses. However, the specific risk factors contributing to stone formation during pregnancy, particularly within the Chinese population, remain poorly understood. This retrospective survey aimed to identify demographic, clinical, and obstetric risk factors associated with urinary tract stones in pregnant women at a tertiary hospital in China.

Methods: The study population included pregnant women admitted to our hospital between May 2022 and July 2023. Participants were categorised into a control group and a stone group based on the presence of urinary tract stones. The study assessed demographic, clinical, obstetric, urinary, and blood chemistry parameters to identify risk factors for urinary tract stones during pregnancy. Statistical analyses, including logistic regression and correlation analyses, were used to examine the associations between these variables and urinary tract stone formation.

Results: A total of 102 pregnant women were included in the study, with 67 in the control group and 35 in the stone group. The stone group demonstrated a significantly higher body mass index (odds ratio (OR) = 1.407, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.015-1.949, p = 0.040) and a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (OR = 0.437, 95% CI 0.635-0.689, p < 0.001), hypertension (OR = 0.017, 95% CI 0.000-0.614, p = 0.026), and a history of urinary tract stones (OR = 0.104, 95% CI 0.014-0.277, p = 0.027) compared to the control group. Additionally, the stone group exhibited higher levels of urinary calcium (OR = 1.089, 95% CI 1.009-1.174, p = 0.028), urinary oxalate (OR = 1.307, 95% CI 1.021-1.673, p = 0.034), and serum sodium (OR = 2.015, 95% CI 1.200-3.381, p = 0.008), along with significantly lower levels of serum albumin (OR = 0.083, 95% CI 0.014-0.502, p = 0.007). Moreover, the incidence of preterm labour was higher in the stone group (OR = 23.250, 95% CI 1.118-483.587, p = 0.042).

Conclusions: Our study identified several risk factors associated with urinary tract stone formation during pregnancy, including metabolic and renal health parameters, as well as a history of urinary tract stones. These findings underscore the multifactorial nature of stone formation risk during pregnancy and highlight the importance of comprehensive prenatal care.