Kidney Stones can be an indicator of systemic and cardiovascular disease: Evidence from the Colombian Nationwide Registry Study

Background and Objective: Urolithiasis clusters with metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. We estimated nationwide prevalence of urolithiasis in Colombia and quantified its association with cardio-metabolic comorbidities and major cardiovascular events. Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional analysis of Individual Health Service Provision Records (RIPS), 2010–2024. Urolithiasis identified by ICD-10. Prevalence reported as % and stratified by sex and age. Associations summarized as prevalence ratios (PRs) comparing association with cardio-metabolic comorbidities in individuals with vs without stones; chi-squared tests with 95% CIs. Results and Limitations: Among 65.4 million encounters, 1,838,661 carried a urolithiasis diagnosis (2.8%). Men slightly higher than women (2.9% vs 2.6%). Metabolic disorders were enriched in stone formers: hypertension 6.6% vs 2.2% (PR≈3.0), dyslipidemia 7.3% vs 2.5% (PR≈2.9), obesity 6.3% vs 2.6% (PR≈2.5), diabetes 7.3% vs 2.6% (PR≈2.8). Cardiovascular events were more frequent: ischemic heart disease 7.4% vs 2.7% (PR≈2.7); stroke 5.5% vs 2.8% (PR≈2.0). Renal involvement showed the largest disparity: CKD 8.9% vs 2.7% (PR≈3.3). In children <10 years, CKD occurred in 3.7% with stones. Limitations: reliance on administrative data (selection/misclassification), no verification of diagnoses, cross-sectional design (no temporality/causality), absence of clinical, behavioral, and socioeconomic covariates, no stone type/severity/recurrence or treatment detail; residual confounding likely. Conclusions In Colombia, kidney stones mark a broader cardio-renal-metabolic phenotype. Routine care for stone formers should include blood pressure, glycemia, lipids, adiposity, and kidney-function assessment plus lifestyle counseling. Health systems may consider urolithiasis as a cardiovascular risk-enhancing factor. Longitudinal studies are needed to define causal pathways, risk trajectories, and cost-effective interventions.