Vascular calcification on the risk of kidney stone: a meta-analysis

The association between vascular calcification (VC) and kidney stone is still inconclusive. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to estimate the risk of kidney stone disease in subjects with VC.
To identify publications from related clinical studies, we performed a search on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from their inceptions until 1 September 2022. According to obvious heterogeneity, a random-effects model was used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analysis was conducted trying to dissect the effects of VC in different segments and population regions in predicting kidney stone risk.
Seven articles were included with a total number of 69,135 patients, of which 10,052 have vascular calcifications and 4728 have kidney stones. There was a significantly higher risk of kidney stone disease in participants with VC versus control (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.13–2.10). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability of the results. VC can be separated into abdominal, coronary, carotid, and splenic aortic calcification while pooled analysis of abdominal aorta calcification did not indicate a significant higher kidney stone risk. An obvious higher risk of kidney stone was observed in Asian VC patients (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.07–2.61).
Combined evidence of observational studies suggested patients with VC may be associated with an increased risk of kidney stone disease. Despite the predictive value was relatively low, it is still worth noting that patients with VC are under the threat of kidney stone disease.

血管钙化（vascular calcification，VC）与肾结石之间的关联目前尚无定论。为此，本研究开展了一项荟萃分析，以评估血管钙化人群罹患肾结石疾病的风险。为检索相关临床研究文献，我们对PubMed、Web of Science、Embase及Cochrane Library四大数据库，从其建库起始至2022年9月1日的文献进行了系统检索。
鉴于研究存在显著异质性，本研究采用随机效应模型计算比值比（odds ratios，OR）及其对应的95%置信区间（confidence intervals，CI）。我们开展了亚组分析，旨在剖析不同类型血管钙化及不同人群区域对肾结石风险预测的影响。
本研究共纳入7篇文献，共计69135名患者，其中10052名存在血管钙化，4728名患有肾结石。相较于对照组，血管钙化人群的肾结石疾病风险显著升高（OR=1.54，95%CI：1.13~2.10）。敏感性分析证实了研究结果的稳定性。血管钙化可分为腹主动脉钙化、冠状动脉钙化、颈动脉钙化及脾主动脉钙化；而针对腹主动脉钙化的合并分析并未显示其会显著升高肾结石风险。在亚洲血管钙化患者中，观察到肾结石风险显著升高（OR=1.68，95%CI：1.07~2.61）。
综合现有观察性研究的证据表明，血管钙化患者与肾结石疾病风险升高存在显著关联。尽管该预测价值相对较低，但仍值得关注的是，血管钙化患者正面临肾结石疾病的威胁。