Epidemiological and etiological considerations

Abstract

This chapter summarizes and discusses some aspects of stone disease from an epidemiological and etiological point of view. The discussion is based on selected data that have been given in the various preceding chapters. In view of what we know so far and regarding recent fi ndings in calcium stone formation, attempts are made to predict in which direction stone research best should move. Improved methods to identify risk factors of stone formation might thus give us a basis for more ef fi cient prevention tools for patients with recurrent stone formation.