Quality of Life of Patients with Nephrolithiasis and Recurrent Painful Renal Colic

BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QoL) has not been a priority goal for patients with recurrent painful colic of renal lithiasis. AIM: To evaluate QoL in patients with recurrent painful symptoms due to renal colic. METHODS: In this case-control study, 194 subjects (97 cases/97 controls) were matched according to age and gender. Cases were patients at an outpatient clinic with a confirmed diagnosis of nephrolithiasis with recurrent painful renal colic. The control group consisted of patients seen at an ophthalmology outpatient clinic for refraction symptoms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: QoL was measured using the SF-36. RESULTS: Average SF-36 dimension scores for cases and controls, respectively, were: physical function 70/95, role-emotional function 33.3/100, role limitations due to physical problems 25/100, bodily pain 41/84, general health status 52/82, vitality 45/80, social function 62.5/100 and mental health 52/84. All values were statistically different (p < 0.001). Using multiple linear regression, there was a statistically significant QoL drop in subjects with lithiasis. Low social and economic levels were associated with the following SF-36 domains: physical function, general health status, vitality and mental health. The influence of the diagnosis on role-physical and role-emotional domains. Analysis of the physical and mental components of the SF-36 Scale showed significantly lower averages between cases and controls: PCS (p < 0.001) and MCS (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The QoL of patients with painful recurrent symptoms due to renal colic was substantially impaired.