Chemical Composition and Associated Patient Characteristics of Kidney Stones in Malakand Division, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Background: Nephrolithiasis is a prevalent urological disorder and a growing public health concern worldwide. The development of kidney stones is influenced by multiple demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors, including age, gender, socioeconomic status, hydration habits, obesity, dietary practices, and comorbid conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Pakistan lies within the global “stone belt,” where the burden of kidney stone disease is particularly high. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the chemical composition of kidney stones and to describe the distribution of demographic characteristics, clinical history, and lifestyle exposures among patients with nephrolithiasis from the Malakand Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over four months at the Swat Institute of Medical Sciences, Pakistan. Adult patients (≥18 years) with imaging-confirmed kidney stone disease were enrolled using a consecutive sampling approach. Sociodemographic data, clinical history, and lifestyle factors were collected through structured interviews. Retrieved kidney stones were analyzed using standardized colorimetric and titrimetric wet chemical methods. Results: A total of 121 patients were included, with a mean age of 37.5 years; 62% were male. Kidney stones were most prevalent among individuals aged 30–50 years (54.5%), those with lower educational attainment (81.8%), and participants from middle socioeconomic backgrounds (51.2%). Commonly reported characteristics included inadequate water intake (69.4%), high dietary sodium consumption (61.2%), frequent tea intake (55.4%), and a personal history of kidney stones (65.3%). Calcium oxalate was the most frequently identified stone type (61.2%), followed by mixed stones (23.1%), calcium phosphate (7.4%), struvite (4.1%), uric acid (3.3%), and cystine (0.8%). Conclusion: Nephrolithiasis in this population predominantly affects middle-aged men and is commonly associated with modifiable lifestyle factors, particularly inadequate hydration and high dietary sodium intake. Calcium oxalate stones remain the most prevalent type. Keywords: Chemical Composition, Kidney Stones, Nephrolithiasis, Risk Factors.