Incidence, morbidity and complications of renal and ureteral calculi in a well defined geographical area.

In a well defined geographical area with only one hospital, the incidence of upper urinary tract stone was found to be 180 per 100 000 inhabitants, a figure not substantially higher than that reported more than 30 years ago. The male/female ratio was 3.6:1. The mean frequency of recurrence was 40% and the mean frequency of infection 12%. Hyperparathyroidism was found in 1.4% of all cases. Thirty-five per cent of the patients required hospital treatment and 19% needed operation. Renal pelvic stone was more common in the female (22%) than in the male (8.5%) patients. Spontaneous passage of stone occurred in 87.5% of the men and in 81.5% of the women. No seasonal variation in the onset of acute pain was demonstrable.