Does fasting in Ramadan increase the risk of developing urinary stones?

Authors

• Sultan S. Alkhateeb, From the College of Medicine (Al Mahayni, Jaafari), from the College of Public Health and Health Informatics (Bawazir), King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences; from the Department of Urology (Alkhateeb), King Abdulaziz Medical City; from the College of Medicine (Al Mufarrih), Al Maarefa Colleges, Riyadh, and from the College of Medicine (Abu-Saq), King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Ibrahim H. Abusaq, From the College of Medicine (Al Mahayni, Jaafari), from the College of Public Health and Health Informatics (Bawazir), King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences; from the Department of Urology (Alkhateeb), King Abdulaziz Medical City; from the College of Medicine (Al Mufarrih), Al Maarefa Colleges, Riyadh, and from the College of Medicine (Abu-Saq), King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Muath I. Jaafari, From the College of Medicine (Al Mahayni, Jaafari), from the College of Public Health and Health Informatics (Bawazir), King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences; from the Department of Urology (Alkhateeb), King Abdulaziz Medical City; from the College of Medicine (Al Mufarrih), Al Maarefa Colleges, Riyadh, and from the College of Medicine (Abu-Saq), King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Amen A. Bawazir, From the College of Medicine (Al Mahayni, Jaafari), from the College of Public Health and Health Informatics (Bawazir), King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences; from the Department of Urology (Alkhateeb), King Abdulaziz Medical City; from the College of Medicine (Al Mufarrih), Al Maarefa Colleges, Riyadh, and from the College of Medicine (Abu-Saq), King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objectives To explore the frequency of renal colic (RC) secondary to urinary stones in Ramadan compared to other months and seasons of the year. Methods Retrospective cross-sectional study using medical records of 237 patients admitted through the emergency room (ER) with a diagnosis of RC secondary to urinary stones over a 10-year period at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Results Patients fasting in Ramadan are 2 times more likely to present with a calculus of ureter as opposed to calculus in another location in the urinary tract, particularly when the holy month of Ramadan falls in the summer season. There was no significant difference in the frequency of urinary stones between Ramadan and non-Ramadan months. Conclusion Fasting in Ramadan does not increase the risk for developing urinary stones compared to non-fasting months. However, fasting in Ramadan during the summer may increase the risk of developing ureter stones compared to fasting in Ramadan during the winter.

Article Type

Research Article

First Page

481

Last Page

486

Recommended Citation

Alkhateeb, Sultan S.; Abusaq, Ibrahim H.; Jaafari, Muath I.; and Bawazir, Amen A. (2018) "Does fasting in Ramadan increase the risk of developing urinary stones?," Saudi Medical Journal: Vol. 39: Iss. 5, Article 8.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2018.5.22160