Geriatric urolithiasis.

PURPOSE: We define the differences between geriatric patients with urinary stone disease compared to a younger cohort.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A data base, including serum biochemical profiles, 24-hour urinalyses and standardized questionnaires, was retrospectively evaluated from more than 6,000 consecutive patients with urinary stone disease.

RESULTS: Geriatric stone formers comprised 12% (721) of all stone patients. Two-thirds of these elderly patients had aberrant urinary values and 29% had isolated hypocitraturia compared to 17% in the younger group. Of geriatric stone forming patients 76% had recurrent urinary stones (mean 3.5 stone episodes), which was similar to the younger comparable group (77%, mean 3.3 stone episodes). The severity of urinary stone disease was similar between the 2 groups based on the need for urological intervention. Geriatric stone patients, in general, experienced the first stone episode later in life (after age 50 years) compared with younger patients. Elderly patients had an increased incidence of uric acid stones, but had a similar incidence of struvite calculi. Geriatric stone patients underwent parathyroid surgery more frequently (2.7 versus 0.7%). Geriatric stone forming patients rarely had renal failure.

CONCLUSIONS: The incidence, recurrence and severity of recurrent urinary stone disease were similar between geriatric and younger stone forming patients. Geriatric stone patients had an increased incidence of isolated hypocitraturia, uric acid calculi and previous parathyroidectomy. The geriatric stone population is not merely an extension of younger stone forming patients presenting at an older age. Rather, geriatric patients commonly experience the first symptomatic stone episode later in life.