The Link Between Kidney Stones and Osteoporosis
Data from the US Veterans Health Administration, as reported in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Health, revealed a startling connection between kidney stones and osteoporosis. The mean age of the data group was 64.2 years old. The results showed that 23% of the men and 34% of the women in the study database who experienced kidney stones, either had osteoporosis or developed it shortly after, or experienced a fracture. Many of these high-risk patients were not screened with a DEXA scan to measure bone density and future risk.
Dr. Ganesan, a Stanford researcher who reported the results, strongly urged any patients with a history of kidney stones to get a DEXA scan for early detection and prevention of osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a medical condition in which the bones begin to lose their density. This increases the likelihood of fractures. The risk of osteoporosis exists for both men and women. For men over age 50, 1 in 4 will fracture a bone due to osteoporosis. For women over 50, the risk is 1 in 2 for a fracture.
In addition to the connection to kidney stones, the following factors also increase the risk of developing osteoporosis:
- Type 2 Diabetes
- A history of cancer
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Thyroid conditions
- Smoking
Having osteoporosis can be life altering. Fractures can lead to permanent pain and some fractures increase mortality risk. If you are at risk of developing or already have osteoporosis, schedule an appointment with our Certified Osteoporosis Specialist. We can help you to prevent, manage, and treat osteoporosis as well as any pain issues. Call our office at 219-836-7246.
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Reference Sources:
Persaud, Natasha, https://www.renalandurologynews.com/home/news/urology/kidney-stones/kidney-stone-warrants-dexa-bone-mineral-density-screening-for-osteoporosis-fracture/ March 10, 2021.
Ganesan C, Thomas I-C, Romero R, et al. Osteoporosis, fractures, and bone mineral density screening in veterans with kidney stone disease. J Bone Miner Res. Published online March 3, 2021. doi:10.1002/jbmr.4260
National Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.nof.org/
Image Credit:
Creative Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Depiction_of_an_Osteoporosis_patient.png,
https://www.myupchar.com/en/disease/osteoporosis
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