Stone Rates Shown to Drop by 80%¹

The University of Chicago Kidney Stone Clinic, including at that time, Litholink founders Coe and Asplin, conducted a study of the cost benefits of testing and treating kidney stone formers. The study, published in Kidney International in 1996, was based on 1,092 stone formers treated at the clinic.

Refer to graph showing the change in stone rates before and after treatment. Treatment caused an 83% reduction in the rate of stone formation.

The study estimated the savings in this population were above $2,000 per patient per year, net of treatment and pharmacy costs.¹

Several studies have reported results that confirm the efficacy and transferability of the type of techniques used by Drs Asplin and Coe. See, for example, the following:

  • Lingeman, et al. Medical reduction of stone risk. J Urology. 1998;160:1629-1634.
  • Coe et al. Differences in urine volume and supersaturation. J Urology. 2001; 166:423-428
  • Mardis et. al. Outcome of metabolic evaluation. J Urology. 2004;171:85
Treatment Reduces Kidney Stones Chart

Reference

1. Parks JH, Coe FL, The Financial Effects of Kidney Stone Prevention. Kidney International. 1996 Nov;50(5):1706-12