Climate change could lead to rise in kidney stones

Experts have warned that rising global temperatures could result in an increase in kidney stones.

Research from the American Urological Association has predicted that the number of people living in high-risk areas in the US could grow from 40 per cent in 2000 to 50 per cent by 2050. This could lead to an increase of one or two million lifetime cases of kidney stones.

Stone disease is linked to dehydration and global warming will increase the effect, particularly in areas of warmer climate.

The southern states of the US are called the "stone belt" because they experience higher numbers of stone disease due to their higher temperatures. The researchers estimate that climate-related changes in the disease will be distributed across the southern half of the country and the upper Midwest.

Costs associated with treating the disease could climb as high as $1 billion by 2050, which is a 20 per cent increase over present day estimates.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, kidney stones are one of the most painful urologic disorders.

They are a hard mass developed from crystals that separate from the urine within the urinary tract.