Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of renal colic (RC) in a northwestern area of Spain and its relationship with seasonal and meteorological characteristics. Materials and Methods: We examined 700,257 cases that presented at the emergency room (ER) between 2005 and 2013. We reviewed data such as age, gender, arrival at ER, tests performed and destination after ER. Monthly data regarding temperature, humidity and hours of daylight were taken into account. The Student t-test, the Mann-Whitney test and the Chi-square test were used for the statistical analysis. RC visits were correlated with meteorological characteristics using the Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: A total of 9,330 cases were diagnosed as RC episodes (1.41% of total cases presented). The age range was 14-100 years and mean age was 47 years. Prevalence in men was higher (55.6%) than in women (44.4%). After the seasonal decomposition analysis by month, a significant increase in RC incidence was observed in the months of June, July, August and December (107-114%). There is a statistically significant correlation between mean monthly temperature and RC visit rate (R 0.33, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The incidence of RC in our region is slightly higher than the one described in the literature. A significant increase in RCs is observed in the summer months, as well as a significant correlation between incidence and temperature.

Keywords:
Renal colic, Incidence, Spain, Temperature, Humidity
1.
Luján M, Sánchez MT, Turo J, Pascual C, Chiva V, Martín C, Torres J: [Climate and epidemiological characteristics of renal colic attendances in an urban setting in Spain]. Actas Urol Esp 2011;35:481-486.
2.
Esquena S, Millán Rodríguez F, Sánchez-Martín FM, Rousaud Barón F, Marchant F, Villavicencio Mavrich H: [Renal colic: revision of literature and scientific evidence]. Actas Urol Esp 2006;30:268-280.
3.
Chauhan V, Eskin B, Allegra JR, Cochrane DG: Effect of season, age, and gender on renal colic incidence. Am J Emerg Med 2004;22:560-563.
4.
Pearle MS, Calhoun EA, Curhan GC: Urologic diseases in America project: urolithiasis. J Urol 2005;173:848-857.
5.
Pérez JA, Palmes Mde L, Ferrer JF, Urdangarain OO, Nuñez AB: Renal colic at emergency departments. Epidemiologic, diagnostic and etiopathogenic study. Arch Esp Urol 2010;63:173-187.
6.
Lin KJ, Lin PH, Chu SH, Chen HW, Wang TM, Chiang YJ, Liu KL, Wang HH: The impact of climate factors on the prevalence of urolithiasis in Northern Taiwan. Biomed J 2014;37:24-30.
7.
Sirohi M, Katz BF, Moreira DM, Dinlenc C: Monthly variations in urolithiasis presentations and their association with meteorologic factors in New York City. J Endourol 2014;28:599-604.
8.
Cervellin G, Comelli I, Comelli D, Meschi T, Lippi G, Borghi L: Mean temperature and humidity variations, along with patient age, predict the number of visits for renal colic in a large urban emergency department: results of a 9-year survey. J Epidemiol Glob Health 2012;2:31-38.
9.
Pincus S, Macbean C, Taylor D: The effects of temperature, age and sex on presentations of renal colic in Melbourne, Australia. Eur J Emerg Med 2010;17:328-331.
10.
Boscolo-Berto R, Dal Moro F, Abate A, Arandjelovic G, Tosato F, Bassi P: Do weather conditions influence the onset of renal colic? A novel approach to analysis. Urol Int 2008;80:19-25.
11.
Basiri A, Moghaddam SM, Khoddam R, Nejad ST, Hakimi A: Monthly variations of urinary stone colic in Iran and its relationship to the fasting month of Ramadan. J Pak Med Assoc 2004;54:6-8.
12.
Lo SS, Johnston R, Al Sameraaii A, Metcalf PA, Rice ML, Masters JG: Seasonal variation in the acute presentation of urinary calculi over 8 years in Auckland, New Zealand. BJU Int 2010;106:96-101.
13.
Condemi V, Gestro M, Dozio E, Tartaglino B, Corsi Romanelli MM, Solimene U, Meco R: Association with meteo-climatological factors and daily emergency visits for renal colic and urinary calculi in Cuneo, Italy. A retrospective observational study, 2007-2010. Int J Biometeorol 2015;59:249-263.
15.
Evans K, Costabile RA: Time to development of symptomatic urinary calculi in a high risk environment. J Urol 2005;173:858-861.
16.
Chen YK, Lin HC, Chen CS, Yeh SD: Seasonal variations in urinary calculi attacks and their association with climate: a population based study. J Urol 2008;179:564-569.
© 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel
2015
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.