Hospital discharge rate for kidney and ureteral stones in the pediatric population in Chile: A 2021 - 2024 analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52611/confluencia.2026.1883Keywords:
Nephrolithiasis, Urolithiasis, Pediatrics, Hospitalization, ChileAbstract
Introduction: Urolithiasis is a pathology caused by the presence of stones in the urinary tract. In pediatrics, the etiology is usually multifactorial. Approximately 50-70% of stones are due to metabolic causes. Objective: To determine the hospital discharge rate for kidney and ureteral stones in the pediatric and adolescent population from 2021 to 2024 in Chile Methodology: An observational, descriptive, and quantitative study was conducted using statistical data from the Department of Health Statistics and Information and the National Statistics Institute. Approval by an ethics committee was not required. Results: The highest hospital discharge rate was recorded in 2024, reaching 5,90/100.000 inhabitants. Females presented the highest hospital discharge rate during the period, with 5,83/100.000 inhabitants. The age group with the highest hospital discharge rate over the period was between 10 and 19 years old, with a value of 7,75/100.000 inhabitants. Discussion: The higher rate in 2024 is consistent with the literature, which may be due to the increase in kidney stones associated with dietary changes. Females had the highest rate, which could be attributed to various factors, including hormonal and anatomical variations. The higher hospital discharge rate in the 10-to-19-year age group also aligns with current literature and could be related to the changes associated with puberty. Conclusion: Hospitalizations for pediatric urolithiasis are increasing among Chilean adolescents, justifying further research given the scarcity of national evidence.
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