Sonographic Assessment of Urolithiasis in University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT Background. The prevalence of urolithiasis varies according to geographic areas. Urolithiasis is the third most common urological disease with many complications including renal failure. The prevalence is on the rise in Nigeria due to several epidemiological factors including high environmental temperature. There is paucity of documented scientific study on the prevalence of urolithiasis in the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital within the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. Objective: Thisstudy was conducted to assess the prevalence of urolithiasis in University of Abuja Teaching Hospital. Method. The study adopted a cross- sectional survey. This study was conducted at the Department of Radiology, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between June 2014 and May 2015. A total of 2,310 patients that underwent abdominopelvic ultrasound in the department and met the inclusion criteria participated in the study. Their age range was between 2 – 64 years. They were recruited using a convenience (non - probability) sampling technique. Patients identified with urolithiasis were analyzed for age, site, associated clinical symptoms. Data obtained was subjected to descriptive statistics and analyzed using student t–test (paired t -test). Probably value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 2,310 patients were scanned, 31 patients were sonographically identified with urolithiasis. The prevalence of urolithiasis was 13.4 per 1000. The mean age was 31.12± 3.69 years and ranged (2 – 64 years). There were 58.06% males and 41.93% females giving a male to female ratio of 1.3:1. The peak age of incidence was 21 – 50 years. Majority of the stones 22(71%) were located in the upper urinary tract while 9 (27%) were in the lower urinary tract. The commonest presenting symptoms were flank/loin pains (renal colic) noted in 12(40%) patients followed by heamaturia in 4(13.3%) patients. Conclusion: The prevalence of urolithiasis was calculated to be 13.4 per 1000 hospital population.The study also showed that the age group of 3rd to 4th decades are more prone to urolithiasis. This information can be utilized in formulating future health plans for prevention of urolithiasis in the hospitals within this locality.